It could be just healthy competition, but international beverage giant Coca-Cola says the Chinese brand Nongfu Spring copied its overall design and packaging for bottled vitamin water.

According to Zhai Mei, head of public affairs and communications at Coca-Cola China, Nongfu's Victory Vitamin Water "is visually very similar to Coke's Glacau Vitamin Water in bottle shape, size and logo design, which would easily confuse consumers".

Zhou Li, spokesman for Nongfu Spring, denied the accusation and noted it has no legal backing.