Did Starbucks rip me off? You decide. I made this in the spring of 2021:
It took about a month to 6 weeks to produce with the batch it was in. I posted a picture of it on Instagram on April 14th before any firing was done, it was in the leather hard stage.
Back up a little to the fall of 2020, I applied to a call in Seattle at the Northwind Arts Center, technically its in Port Townsend about an hour away, but in the Seattle area. My daughter sent me the photo below recently, stating and I quote “OMG Dad Starbs is ripping off your mug”. At first I didn’t believe it chalking it up as good old coincidence, but there was this nagging little voice saying ‘there no such thing as coincidence’. Here is the plastic mass produced and guaranteed to make millions and pollute the earth forever version from Starbucks 2021 Fall line:
So I ask you this, was my mug design stolen? DO I have a case here? I think so. Will I do anything about it, a lawsuit, organize a boycott, Dunkin Donuts Molotov cocktail? That is the question.
Very good write-up. I absolutely appreciate this site. Thanks!