A tortellino. An illustration. A case in which attorney Lavinia Savini represented the claimant. And a lawsuit won against a giant.

Cristina Cati, a Bologna-based illustrator and founder of the brand Modoro, created the artwork “Tortellino con ingredienti”. IKEA reproduced it, modified it, and used it to decorate one of its stores in Casalecchio di Reno — without authorisation, without a contract, and without crediting the author.

Cristina found out almost by chance, through a follower on Instagram who, upon seeing the illustration in the store, assumed it was the result of an official collaboration.

It was not a collaboration. It was a copyright infringement.

Despite an attempt to settle the matter with an offer deemed inadequate, Cristina chose to press on — to stand up for the value of her creative work.

The Court of Bologna, specialised division for intellectual property disputes, ruled in her favour: the artwork qualified as a protected creative work under Italian law. IKEA was ordered to pay damages of €7,552 plus interest. The judgment is now final.

A case that serves as a reminder: creative work — built on time, research, talent, and personal vision — deserves to be respected. And it can be protected, even when the other side is a global brand.