Benelux refused Yuri Shefleru – Bulletin

The rights to vodka brands Stolichnaya, Moskovskaya and Na zdorovye in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg belong to the PCF “Souzplodoimport.” Such a decision handed down on Wednesday the District Court of Rotterdam. The court ordered the Dutch company owned by Russian businessman Yuri Shefleru, Spirits International (SPI Group) return PCF right to use vodka brands within three months or pay compensation and penalties stated in the trial transcript.

The dispute over trademark popular Russian vodkas (the so-called “Soviet” vodka Stolichnaya, Moskovskaya, Kubanskaya et al.) Is from the beginning of the 2000s. In 2001, the Supreme Arbitration Court of Russia returned from a group of these signs Sheflera state. PCF “Souzplodoimport”, created in December 2001, received from the government the right to dispose of the vodka brand.

Abroad right to the disputed vodka brands owned by SPI and distributors. In this connection, the PCF has initiated legal proceedings in different countries. The Netherlands and Benelux lawsuit goes to 2003 In December 2013, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands refused SPI Group in the review of decisions of the lower courts that have recognized the owner of the rights to the vodka brands Stolichnaya and Moskovskaya Russian PCF “Souzplodoimport” wrote “Kommersant”. The case was returned to the first instance to decide on the transfer of the PCF.

Rotterdam court ruled: “Brands have not been transferred [company Scheffler] legally.” “That is why brands are still owned by the previous owner: the Russian state,” – said in a summary of the court’s decision on its website.

The court also banned Spirits International in the Benelux market, export and import vodka with “misleading” indication “Russian” or “made in Russia”. Request “Soyuzplodoimport” Scheffler prohibit companies use an abbreviated colloquial name vodka Stolichnaya – Stoli – the court rejected.

The court decision comes into force from the date of issuance, the official said, “Soyuzplodoimport.” The company is quite court decision: it opens up the market, with a capacity for Stolichnaya and Moskovskaya vodka is now about 30,000 devyatilitrovyh cases. According to industry publication Drinks International, in 2013 (no more recent data) selling Stolichnaya vodka in the world amounted to 3.3 million cases, and the brand entered the top ten best-selling (see. Chart).

Although the decision of the court of Rotterdam extends only to the Benelux countries, it could set a precedent for similar processes in other European countries, says Reuters. The courts of other countries of the European Union will now proceed from the fact that “Souzplodoimport” is the legal owner of vodka brands, said the agency lawyer PCF.

lawyer representing the interests of the company Scheffler in Rotterdam court, said that his client was disappointed the court decision, but intends to explore options before deciding whether to appeal. “We are studying options for further action. In any case, the court’s decision affects only a small part of the global market, “- said in a statement SPI Group (quoted by Bloomberg).

Spirits International located in the Netherlands until 2013, its parent company – SPI Group – registered in Luxembourg. According to the Chamber of Commerce of the Netherlands, which refers to Reuters, the net profit Spirits International exceed 100 million euros in 2011-2012. before the company moved its offices in Curacao.