Nestle Continues to Fight for Trademark Ownership of “Seattle” While Seattle Strong Owner Launches Fundraising Campaign to Help Cover Legal Costs Against Swiss Conglomerate Giant – CoffeeTalk

A small, locally-owned coffee company, Seattle Strong, is engaged in a legal battle with the Swiss conglomerate Nestle. In 2025, Nestle filed a petition requesting Seattle Strong to abandon its trademark registration, claiming that the company’s name infringes on the trademark rights of its own product, Seattle’s Best. Following this, in March 2026, Nestle initiated a second legal action targeting Seattle Strong’s logo.

Evan Oeflein, the founder of Seattle Strong, expressed his alarm over the implications of Nestle’s actions for small businesses nationwide. He articulated concerns that if Nestle succeeds in preventing them from using the name Seattle while establishing their brand, this precedent could threaten similar businesses across America. Oeflein remains defiant, stating his commitment to the fight against Nestle. To support legal expenses, he has revived a GoFundMe campaign.

Oeflein criticized the notion that a large, foreign conglomerate should dictate the naming rights of a local business, especially within a cultural context like coffee in Seattle. He believes this fight is essential for the future of local enterprises and the principle of fair competition.

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