Non-Cuban marcas with Cuban names

[Christophe]

I want to get some clarity and opinions on what seems to be an American, maybe purely US, phenomenon: non-Cuban cigars being produced under defunct or existing Cuban marca names. 

1) These are, with some exceptions, nowhere to be found in Europe. I'm guessing this is due to much stricter AOC legislation in Europe? 

• NC Cohiba is sold here as "Silencio"
• San Cristobal by Don Pepin Garcia is called Paradiso (never had the impression they were really trying to rip-off San Cristobal de La Habana, and it doesn't even mention the "de la Habana"-part)
• La Aroma De Cuba is called La Aroma De Caribe (according to the information on their website, an overt attempt to revive the defunct Cuban marka)

In 2024, a German court went even further and prevented NC companies from even referring to "Habano" or "Cubano" in e.g. describing the tobacco varietals used in NC-cigars. 

2) It's surprising to me how these marcas don't just rip-off the name but quite often the visual styling of the brand as well. Especially the ones not available in Europe like NC Cohiba, Trinidad, Partagas, Montecristo...Is the intent to actually fool consumers, and do they? 

3) Are any of them any good? And if so, available anywhere outside of the US? Like Asia? 

[JDoughty]

I know it's being contested in the courts. I haven't followed that legal kerfuffle closely though. Smarter folks than me can weigh in with a more educated perspective on that. @NYGuido? 

With the arguable exception of the NC Trinidad, which is quite tasty but bears zero resemblance to the Cuban Trinidad, the NC versions of the classic Cuban marcas are pretty bad. Just my opinion, but as far as I can tell it looks like they're trying to pass off poor tobacco for ridiculous prices to people who think Cohiba means it's good. I've been handed a few to smoke, and to be polite I tried to smoke them, but the operative word here is 'tried'. They are not good. I like NC sticks just fine across a wide range of the spectrum. I did not like these one bit. The only other wannabe Non-Cuban, Cuban cigar I've tried is a Montecristo. It was not as awful as a NC Cohiba, but it was not good either. I have heard that the Montecristo white labels are not bad, but at that price point I'm just getting something that is actually good from Liga Privada, Padron or Davidoff. 

I've shied away from the other NC wannabes, so I have no idea what the NC version of Partagas and Bolivar are like. I love both marcas as CCs so there would be some disappointment baked into the experience for me anyway.