Russian state company FKPSoyuzplodoimport waged an eight-year battle against Dutch company Spirits International, which marketed vodka under the Stolichnaya brand in Chile.
After eight years of appeals and oppositions, the court ordered the Dutch trade mark to be cancelled, finding that the fame and notoriety associated with the Stolichnaya brand belongs to the Russian state.
Other battles over the Stolichnaya mark have been fought in countries including Venezuela, Benelux, Brazil, Austria, the US and Poland. The disputes began in 2001, when Russian president Vladimir Putin reestablished state control over several brands that had been transferred to private companies following the collapse of the former Soviet Union.
Silva & Cia represented FKP Soyuzplodoimport.
