SPI Group will ‘aggressively’ defend Stoli rights
SPI Group said it will “aggressively” defend its rights to the Stolichnaya Vodka trademark after a US court re-opened a Russian government lawsuit.
SPI Group argues the trademarks were acquired “legitimately”On Tuesday 5 January, the Second Circuit rules that the Federal Treasury Enterprise Sojuzplodoimport (FTE) has grounds to take legal action against SPI Group for trademark rights to Stolichnaya Vodka.
However, in a statement released on Wednesday SPI Group also highlighted that several claims brought forward against the company were dismissed.
The firm argued trademarks were acquired “legitimately” in 1997 by SPI Group from private shareholders and not from Russian State.
The dispute between SPI Group and the Russian Federation came about in 2000 following an order form the Russian President and government officials who see the brand as part of the state’s ‘Russian Heritage’.
SPI Group said in its official statement: “SPI Group, parent company of Stoli Group, is fully prepared to demonstrate our rightful and legal ownership of Stolichnaya and to put the dispute behind us.
“While SPI is disappointed with the Second Circuit’s decision regarding the jurisdiction of the US Federal Courts, it should be noted that several claims raised against SPI were dismissed.
“Still, SPI has full confidence in the United States court system and believes that SPI will prevail in proving its legitimate rights.
“Since [2000], the Russian Federation through various state entities has embarked on a harassing campaign in the courts around the world to confiscate the Stolichnaya trademark.
“SPI Group has been successful in protecting these assets in the US and abroad and will continue aggressively to defend its rights.”
In March last year, SPI Group expressed its disappointment at the ruling of a Dutch court to return its Stolichnaya Vodka trademark in the Benelux region to the Russian state.
