A Chinese court in Shanghai ruled that a local Chinese coffee shop was illegally using the Starbucks name and logo. Starbucks has a significant presence in China with approximately 140 stores there.

The ruling that a local company had infringed on the Starbucks name and logo takes on added importance in that Chinese companies have a reputation for “knocking off” Western brand merchandise. That a Chinese court would rule in Starbucks' favor suggests that the government is beginning to listen to the concerns voiced by Western nations about the importance of respecting copyright and trademark law. We will see if this decision is just an aberration or the sign that the “knock off” businesses in China no longer will enjoy the protection of a government that often has looked the other way at their actions.

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