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Novato Restaurant Sued By Francis Ford Coppola Over Trademark Infringement

Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for DGA)

NOVATO (CBS SF) - Tavola Italian Kitchen in Novato is being sued by Bay Area Filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola for trademark infringement.

According to the Marin Independent Journal, Coppola, who owns a restaurant in Sonoma and 'Zoetrope' in San Francisco, has a style of service where "servers come to each table offering an assortment of family-style dishes," according to a complaint filed this week in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.

"A Tavola services have become a hallmark, reserved months in advance," according a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.

In January, Coppola's attorney Giselle Galper contacted the owners of Tavola Italian Kitchen and advised them of the possible miscommunication that their new name may have with their customers. Customers may confuse their restaurant to be associated with Coppola's restaurants and their services.

The lawsuit is based on a registered trademark that the Coppola Family Trust has with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, while the Tavola Italian Kitchen owners have been "unsuccessful" to obtain their own trademark, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Neither party has commented on the matter.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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