Starbucks Hits Back At The New 'Dumb Starbucks' Coffee Shop

@dumbstarbucks on Twitter

All weekend, a new coffee shop called "Dumb Starbucks" served free beverages to baffled Los Angeles customers.

The shop is identical to Starbucks in every way, except for that the word "dumb" is prefixed to the title and menu items.

Now, Starbucks has an ominous warning for the new store.

We appreciate the humor but they can't use our name," Starbucks spokesman Jim Olson told CNNMoney. "It's a protected trademark. It's our trademark."

In an FAQ posted in the store, Dumb Starbucks claims that it can legally use the coffee giant's name and logo because it's protected under parody.

It's still unknown what Dumb Starbucks is, although some theories suggest it might be a marketing gimmick for Comedy Central.