Vampire Family Brands, LLC, a Ventura County winemaker, recognized for wine brands like Dracula, Vampire, and Fangria, is taking legal action against an Australian vintner for what it believes to be an infringement of its trademark, among other things. According to a complaint filed on August 29, 2023 in U.S….
Category: Wine Lawsuits
Supreme Court Says Tennessee Law Requiring Citizenship for Alcohol Retail License is Unconstitutional
Today, the Supreme Court struck down on a Tennessee regulation that requires residency of two years for applicants applying for an in-state retail alcohol license. In a 7-2 decision, the Court reasoned that, while the 21st Amendment extends states the right to regulate sales of alcohol within state border, there…
Supreme Court Grants Cert to A Granholm-Like Case for Retailers
On Thursday, September 27, 2018, the Supreme Court granted cert to a new case involving Granholm-like issues for the alcohol beverage wholesale and retail tiers. See Certiorari Granted. The case, Tennessee Wine and Spirits vs. Byrd Clayton, stems from a Tennessee law which requires in-state retail license applicants to satisfy residency requirements. The law…
The Vineyard House Files Trademark Infringement Complaint Against The Napa Vineyard House
As originally reported by the Napa Valley Register, two vineyard “houses” in Napa are currently in disagreement about the use of a similar name. See Lawsuit Claims Confusion Between 2 Napa ‘Vineyard Houses.’ Vineyard House Winery in Oakville is disputing the use of “Vineyard House” by The Napa Vineyard House. On February 1st, The…
Which Came First: The Trademark or the Viticultural Area?
Last week, San Antonio Express News reported that a California-based winery named San Antonio Winery brought a trademark suit against a San Antonio-based winery called Lara Vineyard. In its complaint, San Antonio Winery alleged that Lara Vineyard’s use of the term “San Antonio” as a fanciful name on its labels infringed upon…
Recent Publication: Label Lawsuit Lessons
The November/December 2015 issue of Vineyard & Winery Management magazine features one of my most recent articles, Label Lawsuit Lessons. The article details the implications the 2014 Supreme Court case POM Wonderful LLC v. Coca-Cola Co. may have on the wine industry. Specifically, the article looks at the idea that a COLA may simply be…
Court Denies Union Wine Company’s Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit Brought by FN Cellars
Last week, California District Court Judge Donato denied Union Wine Company’s motion to dismiss a suit launched against the wine company by FN Cellars, LLC. FN Cellars originally brought suit against Union Wine seeking (1) declaratory judgment of validity for FN Cellars’ trademark; (2) a declaration that its mark does not…
Willamette Valley Vineyards Sues Neighboring Farm Over Herbicide Drift
Willamette Valley Vineyards is suing Five Cent Farm, Inc., a neighboring farm. According to Statesman Journal, the lawsuit filed against Five Cent indicates that the Vineyard is claiming more than $400,000 in economic loss from damage to the Vineyard’s pinot noir grapes. The complaint states that Willamette Valley Vineyards has a…
Judge Grants Order Allowing Empire Wine to Subpoena NYSLA Employees
Last week, and as noted originally by Capitol Confidential, Honorable Gerald W. Connolly, Acting Supreme Court Justice for the State of New York Supreme Court for the County of Albany, issued a decision and order allowing Colonie-based retailer Empire Wine to subpoena NYSLA employees. See Empire Wine & Spirits LLC v. New York State…
Winery Files Opposition to Trademark Registration of HBO’s Three-Eyed Raven
Last week, Franciscan Vineyards, Inc. of St. Helena filed an opposition to the mark THREE-EYED RAVEN, filed by Applicant Home Box Office, Inc., for alcohol beverages, energy drinks, and non-alcoholic drinks beverages and fruit drinks. Franciscan Vineyards opposes registration of THREE-EYED RAVEN on the grounds that registration is likely to…