Coppola winery, sonoma
(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

A company acting for Francis Ford Coppola has filed a lawsuit against US wine firm Copa Di Vino, accusing it of breaking trademark rules.

GMYL, the company that controls the trademarks to Coppola wine brands, filed the lawsuit against Copa Di Vino and its owner, James Martin, in California.

A spokesperson for Copa Di Vino could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Coppola and Copa Di Vino wines side by side, as shown in the lawsuit filed by GMYL.

The Coppola and Copa Di Vino wines side by side, as shown in the lawsuit filed by GMYL.
(Image credit: GMYL)

GMYL accused Copa Di Vino of copying Coppola’s ‘Director’s Cut’ brand with its own ‘Winemaker’s Cut’ wines.

GMYL also claimed that the Oregon firm had copied the so-called ‘black label trade dress’ of Coppola’s Diamond Collection Black Label claret wine.

‘Defendants are using labels and packaging that are virtually identical to the labels and packaging used for GMYL’s Diamond Collection Black Label Claret wine,’ the lawsuit says.

It adds that the similarities could confuse wine consumers.

Copa Di Vino is based in Oregon and specialises in selling wines by the glass.

The two companies almost went into business together in 2011, but talks broke down, the lawsuit says.

Francis Ford Coppola, who produced hit films including the Godfather and Apocalypse Now, owns the Inglenook estate in California.

See the lawsuit document here.

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Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.