Trademark Fight Escalates As Small, Local Coffee Company Battles Global Giant Over Right To Use Its Brand

SEATTLE (July 9, 2026) – Today, Seattle Strong Coffee Co. announced the relaunch of its GoFundMe campaign to help fund its ongoing legal battle against Nestlé in response to escalations with a second case against Seattle Strong’s logo. The recent filing expands the scope of the trademark dispute beyond the name to target the whole brand. The local cold brew company is doubling down on its commitment to fight for its Seattle-grown identity and the business it has been building since 2017. After extended proceedings, settlement negotiations and mounting legal costs, the dispute remains unresolved, prompting Seattle Strong to once again turn to the community that has supported its business from the beginning. 

The dispute began when Nestlé, which acquired Seattle’s Best Coffee in 2022, challenged Seattle Strong’s federally registered trademark in April 2025, alleging the company’s name infringes on its SBC trademark rights. In March 2026, Nestlé escalated the dispute by filing a second case challenging Seattle Strong’s logo, broadening the dispute beyond the company’s name to its overall brand. Despite more than a year of negotiations, the parties have not reached a resolution. 

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