NJ Pizzeria Threatened By Major Movie Company For Using 'The Godfather' Logo, Design

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — A major movie company, Paramount Pictures, has sent a letter to a local New Jersey pizzeria threatening them for its use of the classic movie "The Godfather" logo and design.

"Paramount Pictures recently learned that The Doughfather, located in Monroe Township, is using the depicted logo ("THE DOUGH FATHER Logo") to advertise and promote its pizzeria and restaurant business," according to a letter sent to the pizzeria by Christine Sun, representing Paramount Pictures.

Max D'Amico, Owner of The Doughfather, located at 365 Spotswood Englightown Road in the Surburban Plaza in Monroe Township, told News 12 he got the letter earlier this week and initially thought "it was joke. It's not a joke, it's for real."

D'Amico said he chose the logo because he loved the classic 1972 crime movie starring Marlon Brando.

"I was 7 years old watching it with the family," D'Amico told Eyewitness News Channel 7. "Being an immigrant family, we were all watching it. It was fun. It was a great movie. I'll never forget it. It was a snowy day, we sat there for six hours."

The letter claims the local pizzeria's logo has a font similar to The Godfather's movie logo, and also uses a black and white silhouette and a hand that is holding marionette strings, which has similar designs to the movie's logo.

Sun asked The Doughfather to "immediately cease any and all use or proposed use of the logo's font and silhouette and hand.

D'Amico's wife Dina Shafran told News 12, that she came up with the design.

"I understand they have their rights. I apologize. It’s not our intent. It’s really because he’s the master of the dough and a movie he loved, and I thought they went hand in hand and that’s how I came up with it," said Shafran.

D'Amico will be modifying the logo of his pizzeria but the name will remain.

"Doughfather is the Doughfather. Nothing is going to change, just the picture image is going to change," D’Amico told News 12.

A similar situation occurred in 2019 when actor and comedian Richard "Cheech" Marin filed a lawsuit against Cheech's Own in Somerville. This resulted in the name being changed to Ambee, which has since seen much success.

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