New York’s ‘Detroit Coffee’ Loses Trademark Infringement Case

A Detroit coffee maker beat trademark infringement claims brought by the New York-based “Detroit Coffee Co.” in the Eastern District of Michigan.

“Detroit Bold Coffee” isn’t confusingly similar to “Detroit Coffee” when considering the trademarks as a whole, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan said.

New York’s Detroit Coffee Co. registered its “Detroit Coffee” trademark in 2013. Michigan’s Detroit Bold Coffee Co. began selling “Detroit Bold” coffee in 2009, and registered related trademarks between 2014 and 2016. Detroit Coffee sued DBC for trademark infringement in 2016.

The court said no reasonable jury could find a likelihood ...