Dunkin’ Donuts claims trademark infringement by new North Attleboro coffee shop

The Sun Chronicle – by Kayla Canne

NORTH ATTLEBORO — The phrase came almost in jest from a new customer, Steve Copoulos said.

“Now that you’re back, I guess North runs on Mike’s,” he said.

Copoulos thought the phrase was funny and decided it would make for some good window art on the front of his new coffee and muffins shop, Mike’s Coffee, at the intersection of routes 1 and 1A in North Attleboro.  

A few days later, another pair of customers said they were from Plainville, and you know, Plainville runs on Mike’s, too. So, Plainville was added.

Copoulos figured the washable art would draw some laughs and maybe some attention to the business in the gray building, still trying to pick up speed after he reopened his father’s famous shop at the same location after 30 years.

What he didn’t expect was a cease-and-desist letter from Dunkin’ Donuts claiming trademark infringement.

“This was never about Dunkin’ Donuts,” Copoulos said, looking at a letter dated May 19 from the coffee chain.

The letter said Dunkin’ Donuts has owned the trademark “America Runs on Dunkin” since 2006 and found his use of a variation of the phrase a direct infringement on their rights.

“Displaying ‘Plainville & North now runs on Mike’s’ creates a likelihood of confusion among consumers by implying that you are an approved vendor of ours,” the letter states. “Your actions are clearly designed to trade on the goodwill and reputation associated with the America Runs on Dunkin’ trademark and constitutes both trademark infringement and trademark dilution.”

Copoulos said his intentions couldn’t be farther from that.

Copoulos said the reason he reopened Mike’s Coffee in the first place was to offer an alternative to corporate chains and try to bring a successful mom-and-pop shop back to North Attleboro.

“I don’t want to be anything like Dunkin’ Donuts,” he said. “I want to be the exact opposite: A friendly and happy place where you can talk to the owner. I want my customers to come in here knowing they can get a good cup of coffee in a comfortable environment.”

And, he also thinks his customers are smart enough to differentiate between the two.

Instead, Copoulos said he sees the letter as a thinly-veiled move by a big business looking to put a small shop in its place.

After closing down the original shop 30 years ago, Mike Copoulos leased the building to Dunkin’ Donuts until recently, with no intention to sell.

Yet, Copoulos said his family received multiple offers from the coffee chain hoping to buy the building outright.

Every offer came with the same pitch: “If you don’t sell to us, we’re going to move down the street,” Copoulos said.

In the end, that’s what they did, leaving the property a few years ago and opening a new shop on East Washington Street.

“They want every corner and they don’t want any competition,” Copoulos said. “Because with no competition, you can do anything you want. They always said they’re not afraid but according to this letter, I’m a threat to them.”

Dunkin’ Donuts did not return a request for comment for this story.

But, Copoulos welcomes the competition.

“It keeps me on my toes,” he said.

In the meantime, he’s washed off the sign and replaced it with something new: “Plainville & North powered by Mike’s.”