Issue No. 018
June 19, 2026
New York
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The IP Briefing · by ESCA Legal
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| Starbucks filed a Southern District of Iowa complaint against Workers United, Starbucks Workers United, a regional joint board, and Iowa City Starbucks Workers United over use of the Starbucks name, circular logo variants, and green branding in public-facing union channels and merchandise. |
| § | The complaint says the challenged uses appear on websites, social media, apparel, mugs, tumblers, and other merchandise sold directly to consumers. | | § | Starbucks claims the union defendants are using the brand in ways that create confusion over source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement. | | § | The company says it is not challenging ordinary labor-related references to an employer's name, such as picket signs or identification of the workplace involved in organizing. | | § | The complaint also targets uses tied to social, political, and geopolitical statements that Starbucks says are unrelated to protected union activity. |
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| § ESCA Takeaway |
| This issue tracks how famous marks and creative works become pressure points when they move through public campaigns, resale channels, and AI training disputes. |
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| More IP Stories |
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| § Trademark · Update |
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| A Central District of California court entered a consent judgment and permanent injunction in Rolex Watch U.S.A.'s case against SDOT Watches, Swiss Wrist, Swiss Angeles, Nicholas Zapf, and related parties over altered and allegedly non-genuine Rolex-branded watches and components. |
| § | The order identifies Rolex registrations covering ROLEX, the crown design, OYSTER, PRESIDENT, DATEJUST, DAYTONA, SUBMARINER, and other watch marks. | | § | The injunction bars the Swiss Wrist defendants from using reproductions, counterfeits, copies, or colorable imitations of Rolex marks for goods or services not made or authorized by Rolex. | | § | The order specifically restricts advertising or selling Rolex-branded watches with non-genuine or materially altered parts, including dials, bezels, movements, cases, straps, bands, clasps, and buckles. | | § | The defendants must take reasonable steps to remove infringing Rolex-branded products, listings, and mark uses from websites, social accounts, ecommerce platforms, and online marketplaces. |
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Why it matters
Luxury resale and customization can create real tension between authenticity, aftermarket modification, and trademark control. The order gives brand owners and resellers a concrete example of how far trademark limits can reach when original marks remain on altered goods.
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| § Copyright · Filed |
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| More than 100 authors filed a Northern District of California copyright complaint against Anthropic, Dario Amodei, and Benjamin Mann, alleging unauthorized use of nearly 500 registered works in connection with book acquisition and AI training. |
| § | The plaintiffs say they opted out of the proposed Bartz v. Anthropic settlement and are pursuing individual claims and a jury trial. | | § | The complaint alleges that Anthropic obtained millions of books from Library Genesis, Books3, and Pirate Library Mirror without authorization from rights holders. | | § | The plaintiffs seek statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work, injunctive relief, attorneys' fees, costs, and other Copyright Act remedies. | | § | Named plaintiffs include authors across fiction, nonfiction, memoir, biography, young adult literature, science writing, and genre fiction. |
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Why it matters
The AI copyright docket is moving from broad settlement pressure into opt-out follow-on litigation. For publishers, authors, and AI companies, the next fight may be less about abstract training policy and more about which works were acquired, how they were stored, and who stayed outside prior settlement structures.
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This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Published by ESCA Legal. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Attorney advertising; prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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