Dumb Starbucks opens in LA as ‘parody' of real Starbucks
The owners of new café called "Dumb Starbucks" in Los Angeles have claimed that they have the right to use Starbucks logos and other intellectual property because they have created a parody of it.
The café looks almost identical to a Starbucks, aside from the fact that the "Dumb" prefix is used everywhere.
Instead of offering espresso, the new site offers "Dumb Espresso" and instead of tea, it sells "Dumb Tea".
The coffee shop which is based in the Los Feliz / Silverlake area of the city says that by using the word, it makes it a parody and is therefore permissible under freedom of speech laws.
A flyer with a list of frequently asked questions explained: "Although we are a fully functioning coffee shop, for legal reasons Dumb Starbucks needs to be categorise as a work of parody art. So, in the eyes of the law, our ‘coffee shop' is actually an art gallery and the ‘coffee' you're buying is considered the art. But that's for our lawyers to worry about. All you need to do is enjoy our delicious coffee!"
It is not clear precisely who is behind the new venture - baristas working there were reported to have simply answered a "help wanted" ad on the Craigslist website. There are rumours that it may be a piece of performance art, possibly for a TV show.
Image credit: twitter/dumbstarbucks