italy has secured a legal victory after the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office ruled that the restaurant chain known as The Mafia Sits at the Table must change its name because it runs counter to “both public order and morality. ” The decision follows an objection brought by the Italian government and echoes an earlier finding by the EU Intellectual Property Office. The ruling affects a chain that operates in Spain and may be appealed.
Italy’s legal win explained
The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office found that the chain’s name directly reproduces the name of a real criminal organisation and noted that the organisation’s activity is “not a remote or merely literary phenomenon, but a persistent reality. ” The office concluded that the controversial name “runs counter to both public order and morality. “
The Italian government pursued the challenge through courts and official bodies over several years, arguing the brand trivialises organised crime and efforts to fight it. The earlier decision by the EU Intellectual Property Office in 2018 declared the name invalid on the grounds that it conveyed “a ‘globally positive image’ of the mafia, ” and was “likely to shock or offend not only the victims of that criminal organisation and their families, but also any person who, on EU territory, encounters that mark and has average sensitivity and tolerance thresholds. “
The chain has defended its name by saying it took the name from a recipe book rather than the criminal organisation and argued the word “mafia” is used in cultural and audiovisual contexts. Company spokespeople described the ruling as “unprecedented in Spain” and said they were considering an appeal. They stressed they are “uninvolved and distance ourselves from any negative connotations attributed to us” and said their focus remains “a high-quality Italian-Mediterranean culinary offering and a distinctive dining experience. “
Fire at Guadalmina Golf Club destroys at least 100 electric buggies
Separately, a ferocious blaze tore through a storage area at Guadalmina Golf Club in San Pedro de Alcantara, destroying at least 100 battery-powered golf buggies and sending a dense column of black smoke into the sky. Firefighters from Marbella were called to the scene at around 9pm on Friday evening after the fire began near the cart loading area.
The intensity of the flames was heightened by lithium-powered electric batteries in the buggies and by the presence of solar panels covering the storage facility. The fire was eventually extinguished in the early hours of Saturday morning, with firefighters noting full extinguishment recorded at 01. 36 hours.
Guadalmina Golf Club is home to almost 2, 000 members and features two 18-hole courses, a nine-hole Par 3 course, a covered driving range and a short-game area. The club has a competitive history, having hosted the Spanish Championship in 1965 and the Andalucia Costa del Sol Spanish Open on the Ladies European Tour.
Immediate reactions and next steps
The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office framed its decision as a defence of public order and morality, repeating that the mark reproduces the name of a real criminal organisation whose crimes include smuggling, organised crime, money laundering, corruption and murder. The EU Intellectual Property Office’s earlier finding that the brand conveyed a positive image of the mafia remains a central pillar of the challenge.
The chain said it had renewed its trademark several times over two decades and had tried to discuss the matter with Italy’s ambassador in Spain, but that it had not had a “real opportunity” to explain the origin and meaning of the name. Company representatives reiterated distance from negative connotations and indicated ongoing consideration of legal options.
Expect an appeal process by the chain and potential further legal exchanges between the Spanish authorities and the Italian government. At the Guadalmina Golf Club, club management and local authorities will assess material losses and the operational impact on members and upcoming events. The legal challenge brought by italy is likely to continue to shape trademark practice and debate over brand names tied to criminal imagery across jurisdictions.
