Unicorn Frappuccino Lawsuit Claims Starbucks Stole Drink From Williamsburg Cafe

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN — The Unicorn Frappuccino was stolen, a lawsuit claims.

Starbucks' signature health drink was actually invented by a small Williamsburg cafe, according to a filing in Brooklyn Federal Court.

The Unicorn Latte was dreamed up at The End Cafe, at 522 Metropolitan Avenue, in December 2016 by the shop’s co-owner Madeline Murphy, according to the trademark infringement suit.

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 claims.

The meaning and symbolism of The Unicorn is all about opening up to infinite possibilities and that infinite possibilities surround you and are available to you at all times. Many times we cannot see that possibilities abound, or even exist. Unicorn gives us the "eyes to see" those possibilities, and "the wisdom" to take advantage of them @laurenxkate (source: Universe of Symbolism by Presley Love)
A post shared by The End Brooklyn (@thendbrooklyn) on Apr 30, 2017 at 8:22am PDT

The End’s Unicorn Latte quickly made the rounds in the press and on social media, where it garnered acclaim and earned its very own hashtag, #UnicornLatte.

Because the drink was such a hit — the lawsuit estimates Unicorn Latte sales are responsible for 25 percent of the cafe’s 2017 income — the cafe owners applied for a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 20.

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

“The size and scope of Starbucks’ product launch was designed so that the Unicorn Frappuccino would eclipse the Unicorn Latte in the market,” the suit alleges, “thereby harming Plaintiffs and confusing their customers.”

Not only did the pink-and-blue Unicorn Frappuccino steal the color palette of the Unicorn Latte, it also stole the hashtag, the lawsuit claims.

Starbucks customers co-opted #UnicornLatte to promote the frappuccino drink, which the suit alleges harmed The End’s reputation. The frappuccino is full of ingredients the Williamsburg cafe would avoid — such as artificial sweeteners and juice concentrates — it was also reported to not taste good, The End's lawyers wrote.

When a People Magazine article reported that Katy Perry spat out the frappuccino after one sip, social media responded with the hashtag and called the Unicorn Latte “gross,” the lawsuit claims.

The Unicorn Frappuccino is no longer sold by Starbucks, but The End's owners are demanding restitution and an apology for the harm Starbuck's ad campaign caused.

Starbucks has issued a statement contending that the suit is “without merit.”

Main image courtesy of Brooklyn Federal Court