The chain reaction of positive court rulings launched eight years ago by the Dutch Supreme Court, which finally recognised the legitimate claims of the FKP Sojuzplodoimport to the legendary trademarks STOLICHNAYA and MOSKOVSKAYA, continues to gain momentum.
Following the Austrian Supreme Court, which in 2020 also issued a final judgment in favour of FKP Sojuzplodoimport, on 16 June 2021 the District Court of The Hague (the Netherlands) declared FKP Sojuzplodoimport the legal owner of the STOLICHNAYA and MOSKOVSKAYA vodka brands in six European countries at once: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Italy and Sweden. The Court ordered Spirits International B.V., whose trademark rights were held invalid, to transfer the rights to FKP Sojuzplodoimport within fourteen days and, if the defendant failed to do so, the court gave FKP Sojuzplodoimport the right to apply to the patent offices of those countries itself.
In addition, the Dutch court made the defendants jointly and severally liable to compensate FKP Sojuzplodoimport for damages caused by the illegal use of the trademarks in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Defendants are ordered to cease infringement of FKP Sojuzplodoimport's trademark rights within two months of the date of the judgment or, otherwise, to pay a fine of a maximum of EUR 2 million to FKP Sojuzplodoimport.
FKP Sojuzplodoimport already takes steps to start supplying genuine Russian vodka to six European countries and intends to seek comprehensive protection of its rights, including the compensation for damages caused by the illegal use of the trademarks from all persons involved.
On 5 July 2021 a non-appealable decision of the Supreme Court of Georgia in favour of FKP Sojuzplodoimport in the dispute over the STOLICHNAYA trademark entered into legal force. FKP Sojuzplodoimport starts supplies of genuine Russian vodka STOLICHNAYA to Georgia and takes measures to eliminate counterfeit products of the Latvian manufacture from the market.
INFORMATION
Federal Treasury Enterprise (FKP) Sojuzplodoimport was established on April 9, 2002 by Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1741-r of December 29, 2001, to use, protect and restore the trademarks, including the most popular alcoholic brands: "Stolichnaya", "Moskovskaya", "Sovetskoye", "Russkaya", etc.
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