Bacardi Wins Round In Havana Club Battle

Bacardi has won the latest round in its ongoing battle with Pernod Ricard over the U.S. trademark for the Havana Club rum brand. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan yesterday dismissed the lawsuit brought by Pernod partners Cubaexport against Bacardi for its use of the U.S. trademark on a Puerto Rican-made version of the brand, asserting that the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba prevents Cubaexport from suing Bacardi for infringement.

This is the second development in the long-simmering dispute between the two spirits giants over the Havana Club trademark in a matter of months. In a separate suit, a Bacardi challenge to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) over the Havana Club rum trademark in the U.S. is set to move forward after the company this summer won its appeal of an earlier decision that would have dismissed its challenge.—Daniel Marsteller

Tagged : Bacardi, Havana Club, Pernod Ricard

GET YOUR FIRST LOOK AT 2025 ESTIMATES AND 2030 PROJECTIONS FOR THE WINE AND SPIRITS INDUSTRIES. ORDER YOUR 2025 IMPACT DATABANK REPORTS. CLICK HERE.