Paint tin wine sparks legal action

A US wine producer has launched legal action against a multinational advertising firm, claiming trademark infringement on a product which dispenses wine from paint tins.

Paradocx Vineyard’s patented design

Pennsylvania based producer Paradocx Vineyard has been selling its Whitewash and Barn Red brands in this format since 2007.

The company launched legal action earlier this month against advertising agency Interpublic after the group announced a plan in March to introduce Beaujolais wine packaged in paint tins.

According to a report in the Penn Record, Interpublic’s marketing material presented the packaging as a playful link with the purple “paint” that wine leaves on the drinker’s lips and teeth.

However, Paradocx claimed that the move infringes on its “inherently distinctive” design patent for the recyclable 3.5 litre wine dispensing container. As a result, the company is suing Interpublic on seven counts, ranging from patent and trademark infringement to unjust enrichment and unfair competition.

Among its claims, Paradocx cited intent to “deceive and mislead the public” and “trade upon the reputation” of the company, which sells wine through its own outlet as well as a number of retailers and farmers’ markets across Pennsylvania.

Recent years have seen a rise in the number of creative packaging ideas for wine, including paper bottles, handbags and cans, with varying degrees of success. Click here to see some of the more imaginative designs to appear on the market.