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Rat City Rollergirls by Seattlest Flickr contributor Scott Engelhardt
Rat City Rollergirls have faced some seriously tough competition in their quest to become champions of the roller derby circuit, but the local team may be facing their toughest competitor to date--off the track. The current battle pits Rat City Rollergirls vs. the Starbucks Corporation in the legal arena, rather than an old hangar at Magnuson Park. At stake in the battle is no trophy or championship, but rather trademark issues and the right to keep a beloved logo.
Starbucks has asked the Rat City Rollergirls to change their logo because it is too similar to the Starbucks siren trademark. Side-by-side comparisons of the logos do show similarities: circles within circles, a portrait of a female in the center of the logo, and two stars. But really, is corporate-mega-giant Starbucks threatened by a local roller derby's team logo? Apparently yes. Enough so that Starbucks has asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to delay granting a trademark to Rat City until July, when the corporation will have had time to decide whether to legally oppose the logo.
The Rollergirls have hired a New York trademark lawyer, Quinn Heraty, to help with their case. About the Starbucks challenge, Heraty had this to say:
The issue is with the shape of the logo, including what they're calling concentric circles. They're saying that the dimensions of the circles are too close to their own. ... I mean, come on, circles and portraits? Big deal. Starbucks didn't invent that."She also said it seemed unlikely the two could find a mutually beneficial middle ground about the logo.
The Starbucks lawyer said that the girls on the roller derby team look scary, and she didn't think, in her own personal opinion, (that) Starbucks would want to associate themselves with the scary characters of Rat City Rollergirls.
Things like this make Seattlest wonder if Starbucks is trying to alienate as many of its hometown clientele as humanly possible. The Rat City Rollergirls logo is a Seattle icon in its own right, and we highly doubt that it is ever mistaken for the Starbucks logo. However, if this trademark battle must take place, may we suggest Howard Schultz and his lawyers don skates and knee-pads to take on Rat City at their home-track? It seems about as fair as a local underground sports team taking on one of the country's biggest corporations in court, but certainly much more entertaining.
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If the logo is anything, it's a tribute to Starbucks, such an important part of Seattle in general. If I was Starbucks I'd be pleased.
But they are scary strong women iSamurai!!
And god forbid, a little sexy too!
The 'bucks wants nothing to do with that.
I always love these lawsuits. I never noticed the similarities in the logos until they pointed them out.
The attorneys love these lawsuits too - doesn't matter who wins, its all billable hours!
Who knows of the Roller Girls outside of the Sound?
If they do, they probably like them. Even those I've talked about the Rat City crew with here either love them or are indifferent.
Who cares if it looks similar? Nobody, with the exception of other roller derby teams, hates the Rat City crew.... plus, you don't fuck with them ladies.
go Rat City!! houston is sending you well wishes and i'm telling everyone i know to not use starbucks until the matter is resolved.
love princess prozac #32b
houston roller derby
Are you kidding me??? I'm boycottng Startbucks forever! Providence Roller Derby supports you!!!!!