Diageo Files Lawsuit Against Heaven Hill’s Admiral Nelson In Canada

Diageo has filed a lawsuit against Heaven Hill in Canada, accusing Heaven Hill’s Admiral Nelson’s rum brand of infringing on Diageo’s Captain Morgan trademark. Filed with the Federal Court of Canada yesterday, the suit alleges that Admiral Nelson’s “is clearly intended to mimic the Captain Morgan brand,” using a similar trade dress and historical character.

Captain Morgan, the largest spiced rum player in the world, with global volumes of more than 19.8 million cases, is also the leading spiced rum in Canada. Heaven Hill acquired the Admiral Nelson’s brand from Luxco Inc. in 2011. The brand has gained a significant following in the U.S.—with volume of more than 800,000 cases—and is also looking to cut into the Captain’s spiced rum share north of the border.

Tagged : Admiral Nelson, Captain Morgan, Diageo, Heaven Hill, Luxco Inc., rum

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