Warner Bros. Sends Cease and Desist Letter to Bakersfield Coffee Shop Over 'Harry Potter' Themed Event
Bakersfield, California (KGET) - Covenant Coffee's ambitious plan to transport customers to the magical realm of Harry Potter has hit a roadblock. The nonprofit coffee shop, dedicated to fostering education and employment for former and current foster children, received a formal cease and desist letter from Warner Bros. last week.
The letter addressed the coffee shop's 'Holidays at Hogwarts' event, which began on November 29th at the Stockdale Towers location. The event featured a range of Harry Potter-themed decorations and drinks, including the Peppermint Owl Latte, Hogsmeade Hazelnut Brew, and Gryffindor Gingerbread Cappuccino, among others.
The coffee shop's Instagram story announced the removal of all Harry Potter-related content from their social media platforms and the discontinuation of the use of any trademarked names. The event was promptly renamed to 'Holidays in the Great Hall', and several drink names were updated to be less specific to the franchise.
Despite the setback, the event is set to continue through December 6th, with a sold-out trivia night for adults on Friday. The coffee shop is also inviting local children to visit with their families on the last day of the event, offering fun activities and a chance to enjoy the magical atmosphere.
Customers can also participate in a unique initiative by grabbing tags from the Christmas trees at both Covenant locations, buying a gift for each tag, and returning them to the shop to make someone's Christmas brighter. Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment on the matter, leaving the future of the event in question.
This incident raises questions about the boundaries of fan-based events and the legal rights of intellectual property owners. It remains to be seen whether Covenant Coffee will be able to resume their magical journey with Harry Potter, or if this will be a temporary detour in their mission to support foster youth.
