Starbucks clashes with small Alaska company over trademark

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A small Alaska apparel company is clashing with Starbucks over a trademark term the Seattle-based coffee giant says is too closely linked to its own branding.

Starbucks wants the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to reject an application by Wasilla-based Mountains & Mermaids, the Anchorage Daily News reported .

The Alaska company late last year applied to trademark the term “Siren’s Brew” for its products. It has branded its apparel with the image of a siren or mermaid holding a cup of coffee, and recently began using the design on coffee.

In February, Starbucks applied...