Best Coffee In America™ won’t become property of Dunkin’ Donuts. The ubiquitous global coffee and donut chain will have to stick to their “America Runs On Dunkin’” line for the time being. For more on this decision, we turn to the Boston Globe:

Dunkin’ Donuts won’t be able to claim exclusive­ rights to the phrase “Best Coffee in America.”

The Patent and Trademark Office has tentatively rejected the Canton-based chain’s efforts to trademark the slogan, saying it is not distinctive enough to qualify for protection. The slogan “is merely laudatory and descriptive,” the agency ruled recently.

“Anyone at all can claim that their coffee is the ‘Best Coffee in America,’ ” said a Newton trademark attorney, Zick Rubin. “No one takes such a claim literally, and no one company can monopolize the phrase.”

According to the Globe, Dunkin’ Donuts has been basing its “Best Coffee in America” claims off of a 2007 AOL.com poll. We’re not sure which is sadder – a five year old poll or the fact it came from AOL.

The word “Baristas”, on the other hand, is totally trademarked.

Note: The above image is the property of Dunkin’ Donuts and their team of lawyers.

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This leaked cable says that Starbucks gave up, but expected the US Government to take up the fight on their behalf. Kinda small shakes now, but could be an interesting point to remember when Howard Schultz decides to start running for public office. (Trust us, he will.)

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