Zara faces legal battle over coffee brand
The famous ready-to-wear brand Zara, owned by the Spanish giant Inditex, finds itself at the heart of a legal dispute with the Italian company Zicaffè, which specializes in the roasting and sale of coffee. At issue? Zara’s attempt to register the “Zacaffè” trademark for its future coffee bars in some of its stores.
Opposition validated by the European Union
In early January, Zicaffè applied to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to block registration of the name “Zacaffè”, arguing that it could create confusion among consumers and harm its business. The EUIPO accepted this request, preventing Zara from pursuing its project under this name for the time being.
The conflict arose after the presentation last November of the first Zacaffè coffee corner in the Zara Man store in Madrid. The Italian company, founded in 1929, is concerned about the commercial consequences of such appropriation.
A pending legal battle
The EUIPO has set a negotiation period until April 12, during which the two companies can attempt to reach an amicable agreement. If no compromise is reached, the procedure will enter the opposition phase, prolonging the conflict until June 12.
If the situation remains unresolved after this date, the legal battle could drag on for several years, and potentially be brought before the General Court of the European Union (TGUE ) in the event of an appeal in cassation.
Zara faces further legal disputes
This dispute with Zicaffè is not the only one Zara is facing. The Spanish brand is also negotiating with Atari, the iconic video game company, following a complaint concerning the registration of a figurative trademark. In this case, the parties seem to favor an amicable settlement, with discussions postponed until mid-2026.
Growing giant despite obstacles
Founded in 1974, Zara is one ofInditex‘s flagship brands, alongside Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, Oysho, Zara Home and Lefties. Despite these legal disputes, the group continues to prosper, with sales of €18.065 billion in the first half of 2024, recording growth of 7.2%.
The future of the Zacaffè project remains uncertain, but Zara seems determined to pursue its expansion into the foodservice sector. It remains to be seen whether the brand will be able to keep its name, or whether it will have to rethink its ambitions under a different identity.
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