Spanish Court Confirms Ownership of Havana Club Trademark
News from Cuba | Thursday, 3 February 2011
For the third time Spanish Courts refused Bacardi?s attempt to challenge the ownership of the famous trademark for Cuban rum
The Supreme Court of Spain today confirmed the Havana Club joint venture's ownership of the Havana Club trademark in Spain. This is the third time the Spanish courts have rejected Bacardi's challenge to the joint venture's rights over the trademark. The joint venture's ownership was previously recognised by the Spanish lower court in 2005 and then again on appeal by the Provincial Court of Madrid in 2007.
Ian FitzSimons, General Counsel, Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI): "This decision is a victory for the Havana Club brand. This was a blatant attempt by our competitor, Bacardi, to claim rights in a trademark more than 30 years after an unused registration had expired. Our business in Spain was built from scratch and today sells more than 2.7 million litres in the country."
"This judgment allows us to continue to develop in Spain our great range of authentic Cuban rums", said Philippe Coutin, Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Spain.
Havana Club trademark is well-known in Spain, registered in more than 120 countries around the world and has become one of the most valuable brands in the spirits industry. Havana Club Cuban rum is the number 2 international rum worldwide (excluding the US market) and is also listed as the third highest brand on IWSR's list of Elite brands.
