Starbucks Corporation

Starbucks Corporation is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: SBUX) that operates the largest chain of coffeehouses globally. Founded in 1971 in Seattle, Washington, where it remains headquartered, the company has grown to over 35,000 stores in 80 countries. Starbucks reported having approximately 381,000 employees and annual revenue of around $38.5 billion.

The company is an operator of coffeehouses and roastery reserves. Its primary business is the sale of coffee beverages, including espresso-based drinks, hot and cold coffees, and Frappuccino blended beverages. Starbucks also offers a variety of other products, such as teas, smoothies, pastries, sandwiches, and snacks. In addition to its in-store sales, the company sells whole-bean and ground coffee, instant coffee, and ready-to-drink beverages through retail channels. Its brand portfolio includes Teavana and Ethos Water.

As a major operating company, Starbucks' patent litigation posture is that of a defendant. The provided data shows it has been a defendant in one tracked case and has not appeared as a plaintiff. This is consistent with a large corporation being targeted by patent assertion entities. The single case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, a venue historically favored by patent plaintiffs.

The notable case tracked is Sampo IP, LLC v. ETrade Financial Corporate Services Inc. et al.*, filed in 2013. Starbucks was one of several large operating companies named as a defendant in this suit. The plaintiff, Sampo IP, LLC, was a subsidiary of Marathon Patent Group, a company that acquired and monetized patent portfolios through licensing campaigns. The lawsuit alleged that the defendants' communication systems infringed on patents entitled "Centrifugal Communication and Collaboration Method."