Barefoot Contessa Lawsuit - The Food Network's Ina Garten is suing California-based OFI Foods for selling frozen dinners that are packaged like and admittedly inspired by her 'Barefoot Contessa' frozen dinner.
"The continued production of products bearing the name 'Contessa Chef Inspired' and sold in a way that is virtually identical to 'Barefoot Contessa' dinners, represents clear infringement of our intellectual property rights," a press release from Garten's company said.
Garten's 'Barefoot Contessa' dinner was reportedly produced by a third party - Contessa Premium Foods - until the company went out of business in 2013. In June 2014, Contessa Premium Foods was sold to OFI Imports for about $21 million.
Garten reportedly had no ownership interest in Contessa Premium Foods and the company did not own the license to the 'Barefoot Contessa' dinners it produced for her.
According to the lawsuit, OFI Foods had unsuccessfully sought to acquire the license to produce 'Barefoot Contessa' before the company came up with its own 'Contessa Chef Inspired' frozen dinner.
It is difficult to tell that both products are created by different companies when one holds them side-by-side because they feature virtually the same packaging design and recipes.
Garten's lawsuit is seeking an undisclosed amount for damages and also to prohibit any further sales of the 'Contessa Chef Inspired' brand.
About 40 years ago, Ina Garten left a job with the White House Office of Management and Budget to take up a more "creative" job at a specialty food store in the Hamptons. When she sold the store about 18 years later, Garten had earned a reputation for her culinary skills. She went on to become a famous TV chef and cookbook author.
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