Starbucks, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s left Russia, but their knock-off brands live on

Famous Western brands like Starbucks and Coca-Cola that have exited Russia face years of battling knock-offs and unauthorised imports. It’s a risky bid as courts show little sympathy for firms that leave the country. Hundreds of companies pulled out of Russia in early 2022, after Moscow sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February that year. Some, like Coca-Cola, finalised their exit in August 2022 five months later, but have since applied to defend their trademarks to protect the brands…