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Rémy Cointreau settles lawsuit with 50 Cent
French drinks group Rémy Cointreau has settled a trademark lawsuit with rapper 50 Cent over his Branson Cognac brand.
In August 2021, E Rémy Martin & Co filed a complaint in New York against Branson Cognac producer Sire Spirits, which is owned by 50 Cent, real name Curtis J Jackson III.
According to the case filing, the Cognac maker said Sire Spirits had ‘wilfully and blatantly designed their bottle to unfairly capitalise on the goodwill and reputation’ of its Rémy Martin Cognac bottle mark.
Jackson filed a US trademark for his Branson bottle in February 2020. Rémy Martin said the bottle would create a likelihood of consumer confusion due to their ‘stark similarities’.
Rémy Martin also argued that the Branson bottle is a ‘near exact reproduction’ of the brand’s Centaure de Diamant bottle, released as a ‘one-of-a-kind’ bottle design in 2010.
In a statement, Rémy Cointreau confirmed the two companies had reached a settlement, but the court document remains under seal.
The French spirits maker said it was “pleased” to have resolved the trademark and patent litigation in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
“Rémy appreciates and respects Mr Jackson’s entry into the Cognac market and the parties share a common vision for the future of this exceptional and precious spirit,” the statement continued. “The parties are gratified that this matter could be resolved amicably.”
The Spirits Business has approached Sire Spirits for further comment.
Jackson secured a Master medal for his Branson Cognac VSOP Royal in The Cognac Masters 2022.
Earlier this year, we spoke to the rapper about his ambition to deliver aspirational products, and the spirits trends he thinks will be big in the coming year.
In June 2022, Rémy Cointreau settled a trademark lawsuit with Canopy Growth over the cannabis company’s CBD-infused sparkling water brand, Quatreau.
Jackson is not the only rapper to get involved in a legal battle with a major spirits firm. Last month, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs filed a lawsuit against Diageo for allegedly neglecting their co-owned Tequila brand DeLeón because of his race.