It is an unequal battle, almost like David against Goliath: on one side, a Sardinian winegrower, on the other, one of the world’s largest beverage companies. Red Bull has asked the winery Muggittu Boeli, which is located on the Italian island of Sardinia, to remove or change its logo, which the drinks giant says is too similar to the Red Bull logo which shows two fighting bulls.

The dispute, which has reached far beyond the borders of the Italian island, began in September last year with, according to media reports, Red Bull complaining to the patent office that the logo of Muggittu Boeli was too similar to its own, or had obviously been copied. The winery, however, claims that it shows two oxen pulling a plough but, nevertheless, Red Bull filed a lawsuit against it through a lawyer in Turin.

Mattia Muggittu is one of the owners of the winery and in an interview with Italian regional media, he contradicts Red Bull’s statement. “We didn’t imitate Red Bull’s logo at all,” said Muggittu. “On it you do not see bulls, but oxen, which are a symbol of our viticulture. Because we still plough with oxen.” Their logo also includes images of the Stele di Boeli, a four-thousand-year-old sacred stone and an archaeological symbol of Sardinia.

The winery is supported by the local agricultural association Coldiretti Nuoro-Ogliastra, with the director of the association promising to provide the Muggittu family with legal assistance in their fight against Red Bull.