News Briefs for December 30, 2016

•After heating up again earlier this year, the battle between Bacardi Ltd. and Pernod Ricard over the Havana Club rum trademark rages on. In January, in a surprise move, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) recognized Cuban government partner Pernod Ricard as the owner of the Havana Club brand in the U.S., and subsequently allowed Pernod to renew the trademark for a period of 10 years. In response, Bacardi filed suit in U.S. District Court, claiming it’s the rightful owner of the brand, having purchased the rights from the Arechabalas—the family that founded Havana Club and fled Cuba during the revolution. Later in the year, Bacardi doubled down, launching its Puerto Rico-produced Havana Club rum into national distribution,backed by a new advertising campaign. This Sunday, January 1, 60 Minutes will delve into the charged topic with a special report titled “The Rum War,” airing on CBS at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Pacific.

Tagged : Bacardi Ltd., Havana Club, Pernod Ricard

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