Unicorn Frappuccino Lawsuit Settled Out of Court, Records Show

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN — The Unicorn Frappuccino court battle ended abruptly on Tuesday when Starbucks and the alleged creators settled their trademark dispute out of court, records show.

Owners of Williamsburg’s The End Cafe first filed suit against Starbucks in May, claiming that the mega-chain’s signature rainbow-colored drink was actually invented by the shop’s co-owner Madeline Murphy in December 2016, according to a filing in Brooklyn Federal Court.

The Williamsburg version of the bright blue and pink health drink — made out of algae, maca root, coconut milk and ginger — was named after the legendary beast for the “'magical' healing properties” of its ingredients, The End's suit claimed.

Starbucks introduced the Unicorn Frappuccino three months later and began what the lawsuit deemed to be an “aggressive” ad campaign.

While Unicorn Frappuccinos are no longer sold by Starbucks, The End's owners demanded restitution and an apology for the harm Starbuck's ad campaign caused.

It was not immediately clear on what terms the two coffee-pushers settled. But records filed on Sept. 5 show each party will pay their own costs and noted a prejudice against the defendant — Starbucks.

Main image courtesy of Brooklyn Federal Court