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Cointreau and Canopy Growth settle legal battle

French drinks group Rémy Cointreau has settled a trademark lawsuit with Canopy Growth over the cannabis company’s CBD-infused sparkling water brand, Quatreau.

Canopy Growth Quatreau range
The low-calorie Quatreau sparkling water range contains 20mg of US-grown hemp-based CBD

The parent company of orange liqueur brand Cointreau took the Canadian cannabis firm to court in July last year, claiming the firm was trading off the liqueur’s name due to the sound of its name.

Canopy Growth launched its CBD-infused sparkling water brand Quatreau in March 2020, with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS) appointed as its distributor in the US last year.

French liqueur Cointreau was created in 1849 and has been sold in the US since 1885.

The liqueur brand claimed it could see ‘irreparable damage’ to its business with the alleged infringement on its trademark, as the two brands sell drinks through the same trade channels.

Cointreau argued that ‘only the “n” sound’ differentiates the two brands currently, alleging Canopy Growth launched its CBD drinks ‘knowing full well’ these actions would ‘confuse consumers as to their affiliation with [Quatreau] and the Cointreau brand’.

In a legal filing on 24 June 2022, it was revealed that the lawsuit has been voluntarily dismissed, with each party bearing its own fees and costs. Details of the settlement agreement were not disclosed.

The Spirits Business has contacted both Rémy Cointreau and Canopy Growth for comments and is awaiting a response.

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