LEX VINI

Bella Union Winery and Union Wine Co. Settle Trademark Dispute

The ongoing litigation between California’s Bella Union Winery, owned by FN Cellars, LLC (owner of Far Niente) and Union Wine Co. of Oregon, over rights in the parties’ respective trademarks (BELLA UNION vs. UNION WINE CO.) has now concluded.  On Wednesday, October 28, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation to dismiss all claims currently before […]

Clock is Ticking for Trademark Owners for .wine Generic Top-Level Domain

As we’ve previously reported, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has been selling hundreds of generic top-level domains (gTLDs)  to domain name registries for $185,000 each.  These registries then authorize domain name registrars to sell domain names to the public under the gTLDs that the registries have purchased.  The registry called Donuts […]

ASCAP (ESCAPE) TO WINE COUNTRY

What should you do when copyright owners come a-knockin’? Wineries throughout Sonoma and Napa Valley have recently received legal notices from copyright owner groups, threatening legal action for unauthorized live and recorded musical performances in their tasting rooms, etc. which feature songs subject to copyright protection. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast […]

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