Judge Halts Sales of Cohiba Caribbean s Finest Cigars

[Jimmy2]

Judge Halts Sales of Cohiba Caribbean s Finest Cigars

Companies selling a Cohiba cigar called counterfeit by General Cigar Co. were ordered to cease making, importing, and selling the cigars by a Reno, Nevada judge.

The order, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Sandoval on June 2, also prohibits the defendants in a lawsuit filed by General from claiming that they have “any legal right” to use the Cohiba trademark, according to General Cigar. General Cigar owns the U.S. rights to the Cohiba cigar name.

The order comes after General sued distributors of Cohiba Caribbean’s Finest Cigars on March 11.

“While the case is still pending and in its early stages, we are confident that we will ultimately prevail,” said Gerry Roerty, vice president and general counsel of General. “Furthermore, we feel that the judge’s order sends a strong message to those who continue to make false representations to consumers regarding the Cohiba brand.”

Data Commodities Ltd., one of the parties named in the suit, changed its web site in response to the order, replacing the name Cohiba Caribbean’s Finest cigars with Don Rivera

[Ken Gargett]

which might lead to an interesting situation if/when the embargo ends.