Imitation may be flattering, but Bottega says it’s also infringement
Bottega Gold may carry the pride of having inspired producers of Prosecco, Champagne and Cognac, but along with the pride comes loss, and creator Sandro Bottega has launched a series of lawsuits against imitators. These lawsuits have resulted in the seizure of 40,000 bottles of wine characterized by packaging similar to Bottega’s patented bottle. These bottles were seized in Treviso, Italy.
The third-generation family-run company’s signature bottle was developed after a long process of research and development that resulted in a technique that allows the golden bottle to retain its lustre after withstanding the heavy friction of the bottling line. After encountering a number of imitators, which he feels achieved an unfair competitive advantage, Bottega decided to protect the copyrights of his ideas.
Following the recognition of three-dimensional trademark wherein the letter "B" is embossed on the gilded bottles of sparkling wine, Bottega SpA has launched a series of lawsuits against imitators, resulting in the seizure in Treviso, Italy.
Other Bottega products have been counterfeited, too: Alexander “Grappa Spray” in Brazil, Alexander “Grappa Platinum” in France, “Il Vino dell’Amore Petalo Moscato” in China. In 2013 and 2014, two different trials have pronounced two Italian companies from Piedmont and Lombardy guilty of breaching the copyright laws.
