In a recent development in a longstanding legal dispute, a federal court in Virginia has ruled that Cuba’s state-owned tobacco company, Empresa Cubana del Tabaco (Cubatabaco), has the right to seek cancellation of the ‘Cohiba’ trademark held by its U.S. competitor, General Cigar Company. This legal conflict traces back to 1997 when Cubatabaco’s attempt to register the ‘Cohiba’ mark was blocked by General Cigar’s existing registration.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has established that both parties are subject to the terms of the Inter-American Convention, which acknowledges trademarks registered in member countries. Moreover, the court clarified that the ongoing U.S. embargo against Cuba does not prevent Cubatabaco from challenging the mark held by the General Cigar Company. For further details, visit Law.com.