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February 25, 2005

trademark smokes

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown a monkey-wrench in Cubatabaco’s efforts to force the U.S. based General Cigar to stop using the “Cohiba” trademark.   Cubatabaco is the Cuban state-run company that owns all of Cuba's cigar trademarks and enforces those rights throughout the world.

As background, Cubatabaco sued General Cigar in 1997 over the Cohiba mark in an effort cancel General Cigar’s trademark in the United States.  The district court awarded the trademark to Cubatabaco in March, 2004 and ordered that General Cigar’s trademark registration be cancelled.  The Second Court of Appeals reversed the district court this week finding that General Cigar has the right to continue using the “Cohiba” mark. A history of General Cigar and its “acquisition” of premium Cuban cigar brand names is available over at Cigarworld.

Via Cigar Aficionado.  Image Design by Miguel Nuñez.  The Cuban logo is on top with the American logo on the bottom.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 06:28 PM.
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