Mexican Company’s Shrimp Cocktail Packaging Subject Of Trade Dress Lawsuit

Riverside, CA – Vista Del Mar Food & Beverages, LLC filed a Lanham Act § 43(a) trade dress infringement, false advertising, and unfair competition lawsuit at the Federal District Court in Riverside. Vista has sold a shrimp tomato cocktail juice under the Camaronzazo trademark since 2006 and uses a label with “images of a glass of the juice surrounded by shrimp against a backdrop of ocean, sky and clouds.”

In 2009, Vista became aware that Defendants were selling Clamato brand shrimp tomato cocktail juice with an allegedly similar design and label. Vista also complains that Defendants’ label has the words “The Original” prominently placed thereon. Vista alleges that Defendants’ representatives informed Vista that the Camaronazo was a great idea, and subsequently began selling Defendants’ product in 2008. As a result, Vista claims that “The Original” statement on Defendants’ label “is false and misleading because Defendants’ product is not the original or the first shrimp tomato cocktail juice.” The case is titled Vista Del Mar Food & Beverages, LLC v. Compania Exportadora De Aguas Minerales, S.A. De C.V. and Distribuidora Anahuac, S.A. De C.V., EDCV 09-217 SGL (C.D. Cal. 2009).