HABANOS has killed the HABANOS CHRIS YouTube Channel ... UPDATE

[Habanoschris]

Hello all

I have been busy with work and travel and not too active on the forum for several weeks ... I wanted to share an overdue update. 

Habanos and their lawyers had YouTube remove my channel -Habanos Chris- towards the end of 2025.  Someone (not ha_banos believe it or not lol) even suggested that it was somehow Kirby Allison who was worried about my upcoming top 5 review 🤣    I highly doubt I was on Kirby's radar and anyhow, the Kirby review is actually quite positive and was near completed when my channel was removed. 

The truth is Habanos and YouTube said this was all due to copyright issues.  I guess using the name Habanos and some of the likeness of their logo wasn't the best idea in hindsight.  

Also, Habanos had removed my Instagram a long time ago.  I think I even mentioned this in the interview with Rob and feelings that they may come for my channel. So in other words, I had plenty of time to defend against this by changing my channel name and logo etc.  So call it being  stubborn or lazy but I didn't want to change my name.   Also, even with worry they would yank my channel,  I didn't even back up some of my reviews.  So if there are any "superfans" out there that downloaded my reviews reach out to me as I missing a few. 

However, I was able to find most of my reviews and was thinking of doing a re-boot under Havana Chris.  I created a channel and made a new bumper (below).  I know people are fatigued with cigar reviews and I am a bit myself but I felt my channel was slightly different in some ways with some brand history and somewhat unique video editing.  I will keep you all posted if/when resume making YouTube cigar content.

http://www.youtube.com/@havanachris

I do really appreciate the friends I made through the channel, all the support, and getting to meet some of my cigar world heroes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[El Presidente]

I wish you every success Chris! You deserve it. 

Habanos lawyers have been on the IP warpath for the past 6 years. I don't have a problem with them protecting their IP. 

FOH had to change from Friends of Habanos to Friends of El Habano after receiving a legal letter 5 years (?) ago. I took it to the higher levels given we are "Habanos Specialists" and have represented/Habanos officially since 2002 (and prior to that as a pirate since 1996). 

No go. They were adamant. 

Fair enough and to be honest, it was a god send. 

Take the licking, move on, be bigger and better. 

 

[Habanoschris]

Thanks Rob!  It means a lot coming from you.  I do recall your own name change issue which was obviously higher stakes.   

Great advice & class act as per usual.  

[Mike Mecklenburg]

Hi Chris, I was a early subscriber and follower of your channel and was sad to see it pulled.  You would think that all the past positive content you provided would be appreciated by the powers at be.  I'm glad you are renaming and bouncing back.  Best wishes with the new channel!  Mike

[Montezüma]

Surprised to see the lawyers still making time for IP work while defending against the full might of American and Chinese governments.