In Pakistan, a quirky café named Sattar Buksh captured headlines after global coffee giant Starbucks objected to its strikingly similar branding. Founded in 2013, the café leaned into local humor, replacing the Starbucks mermaid with a moustached man and offering coffee alongside shisha and snacks. Yet, the name and circular green logo were close enough to trigger legal objections from Starbucks, which argued the resemblance could confuse customers and dilute its brand.

While global trademark law requires companies like Starbucks to defend their names, Sattar Buksh positioned itself as playful parody and cultural reinterpretation rather than outright imitation. The case drew public attention, with many celebrating the café as a symbol of local creativity standing up to corporate might. Meanwhile, Starbucks pursued other trademark cases in Pakistan, including a successful one against a Lahore restaurant fined for passing off as the global chain. The Sattar Buksh saga highlights the tension between brand protection, parody, and cultural identity in globalized markets.