Coffee giant Starbucks was defeated in federal appeals court by a small coffee manufacturer in New Hampshire. The case was initiated twelve years ago when a small coffee company was sued by the colossal corporation for selling a coffee called Charbucks.

The initial decision was not overturned by the appellate court because the defense failed to prove that consumers were confused by the two brands, even though they are both in the coffee industry. Starbucks conducted a large consumer survey in attempt to prove their case but the court found the “evidence” fundamentally flawed. Additionally, the majority of those surveyed thought Charbucks sounded like something that would be sold at a grocery store, not at a Starbucks store. Starbucks is putting the case to rest, now saying, “We are respecting the court’s decision.” Reuters has the full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/15/us-starbucks-charbucks-lawsuit-idUSBRE9AE0Z120131115