After the Italian government won in a lengthy court struggle, claiming that the company’s name was offensive, a prominent Spanish restaurant chain was ordered to change its name.
Authorities at “La Mafia se sienta a la mesa,” which translates to “The Mafia Sits at the Table,” will need to come up with a new name after Spain’s patent and copyright authority ruled that the brand violated “both public order and morality,” The Olive Press reports
Alleging that the moniker “La Mafia” downplays efforts to combat organized crime, Italy has pursued the case through a number of courts and administrative agencies in recent years.
The name was declared illegal by the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office in 2018 because it presented a “globally positive image” of the mafia, a term used to refer to clan-based criminal groups like the Cosa Nostra that unofficially control large portions of Italy.
The restaurant chain has the right to appeal the most recent rulling, arguing that the name was inspired by a recipe book rather than the notorious criminal organization that appears in well-known movies like Goodfellas and The Godfather.
