Pakistani café Sattar Buksh defeats Starbucks in legal battle

KARACHI: Pakistan’s very own parody café, Sattar Buksh, has won its long-running legal tussle with global coffee giant Starbucks, securing the right to keep its moustached-man logo and quirky name.

The café, launched in Karachi back in 2013 by entrepreneurs Rizwan Ahmad and Adnan Yousuf, first caught attention for its cheeky resemblance to Starbucks.

Instead of the green mermaid, Sattar Buksh’s logo featured a moustached man,  a satirical nod to desi culture. The name itself was a witty blend of “Sattar,” a common Pakistani name, and “buksh,” meaning servant.

Starbucks was quick to take notice, sending a legal notice against the local chain. But rather than fold, Sattar Buksh tweaked its branding and argued in court that the café was satire, not piracy. This defence proved successful, with courts allowing the café to continue under its now-iconic identity.

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Managing Director Armaghan Shahid said Starbucks tried every possible way to shut them down but failed.

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“Yes, the inspiration is obvious, but our details are distinct. We offer a lot more than coffee; burgers, sandwiches, desserts, and even shisha. You could say we are Starbucks with masala,” he remarked.

What began as a joke has now turned into a thriving business empire in Pakistan. The victory has also become a social media sensation, with memes calling Sattar Buksh the “greatest desi dupe in history.”

For many Pakistanis, the win is more than a café story,  it’s about local wit and culture outsmarting a global corporate giant.

And as netizens say, sometimes all it takes is a moustache to beat a mermaid.