cckandb24 Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 So I have always been interested on how all the NC companies can carry the same name as their cuban counterparts...example Cohiba, SCDH, Bolivar, Partagas, HDM etc etc but they are not ran by the same people. how exactly does this work with the NC companies stealing the names and using them to produce cigars???
Rushman Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Not an expert on this but there are very interesting articles on the copyright lawsuits between Habanos SA and the General Cigar Co regarding rhe Dominican Cohiba (red dot). In short, after Cuba nationalized the cigar industry, many cigar makers fled and took their marca names with them.
Nocoins Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 There are several federal trademark cases that explain this. The issue primarily involves the registration and enforceability of the marks in different sovereign jurisdictions. I don't have the links handy but I think HSA, Altadis and/or General Cigar were parties.
cckandb24 Posted October 12, 2011 Author Posted October 12, 2011 Completely separate entities. I understand that they are completely seperate entitties but what i dont understand is why the NC companies dont get thier pants sued off of them for using an already existing brand/name
Rushman Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 I understand that they are completely seperate entitties but what i dont understand is why the NC companies dont get thier pants sued off of them for using an already existing brand/name They have and HSA lost
docbp87 Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 What really complicates it is that Altadis now owns shares in Habanos SA, and has NC brands of the same names...
cigcars Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Throughout the years Cubatabaco (now HSA, I guess) has taken General Cigar to court over the usage of those classic cigar names from old land Cuba for their Honduran versions. And through the years the courts have see-sawed back & forth one minute taking General's side, then taking Cubatabaco's side and agreeing they have no business using Cuba's classic names without their permission. There's been general talk among tobacco industry experts about the interesting feud or whatever that will occur whenever (or IF ever) this Embargo ends
Plato Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 What really complicates it is that Altadis now owns shares in Habanos SA, and has NC brands of the same names... Agreed !
Plato Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 I am more interested in how Altadis will handle this once the embargo ends.
Chaki Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Habanos S.A. is a 50-50 JV between Cubatabaco and Altadis. HSA is a marketing company. They don't make any cigars. They are made by Cubatabaco. The day the embargo ends, HSA can sell their marcas (cc) in the US, competing with Altadis' marcas (nc). Presumably, they are not going to sue themselves. The US customers will choose which cigars they like best, the market decides and that's all (optimistic scenario). Alternatively, Altadis might restrict the acces of HSA's marcas to the US market which could piss Cubatabaco off and result in the break-up of the HSA JV. Any other variation is possible. Still confused? Me too
Stalebread Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Habanos S.A. is a 50-50 JV between Cubatabaco and Altadis. (snip). Still confused? Me too Yes. I thought it was Imperial Tobacco that was the partner with Habanos S.A. Not that it makes much difference. .
Chaki Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 You are right: Imperial Tobacco owns Altadis, so they are partner with Habanos in fine
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