Bacardi loses out in Havana Club court fight
A Madrid court has rejected Bacardi's claim to the Havana Club trademark which is owned by rival Pernod Ricard.
The Madrid Provincial Court ruled that the multinational Bacardi's claims to Spanish Havana Club were unfounded', as the people who sold the rights had never used the trademark and had failed to renew it.
French-owned Pernod Ricard and its Cuban associate own the rights to Havana Club through a partner company Havana Club Holding.
Bacardi first petitioned the Madrid courts for cancellation of Havana Club Holding's ownership of the trade mark in 1999. The Madrid Court rejected the claim in 2005 and upheld the decision last week.
The Court also held that rum produced anywhere other than in Cuba cannot be marketed in Spain under the name Havana' or similar names.
Marc Beuve Mery, the CEO of Havana Club International, said: This new ruling confirms the indisputable rights of Havana Club Holding to the Havana Club brand.'
Bacardi has announced it intends to appeal again.
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