Last May 14, 2012, United States Supreme Court denied to the Cuban
company Cubaexport the possibility to defend its right to renew the registry of
the prestigious brand Havana Club before the United States Patents and
Trademark Office, hindered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the
Department of the Treasury, to provide the Cuban commercial entity the license
to renew the trademark registered in that country since 1976 to 2006.
Such denial was issued under the protection of Section
211 of Omnibus Appropriations Act sanctioned by the United States
Congress at the end of 1998, prohibiting the recognition and renovations
of trademarks associated to properties nationalized by the Cuban Government, as
a result of the maneuvers of Miami´s anti-Cuban mafia and its allies in
Congress, in retribution to the huge financial contributions these receive from
Bacardi Company, real promoter of these actions against Cubaexport, aimed at
seizing the trademarks and market of a genuinely Cuban rum.
Since 1995, Cubaexport, together with French company
Pernod Ricards, distributor of rum Havana Club, has defended its right to
register such renowned trademark, which was supported by the decision of the
World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Panel that ruled against the United
States and requested the elimination of such Section, considered illegal.
The Government of the United States is completely
responsible of this situation. During the judicial process that has
arrived to its unjust end, OFAC argued that it would not issue the license
needed by the spurious Section 211, that would permitted the renovation of
Havana Club trademark in that country, because the Department of State had
requested no to do so because this would not correspond with the United States´
policy toward Cuba.
This action constitutes a serious violation of the
compromises of the United States on the Industrial Property, which obligates it
to protect the trademarks of Cuban companies and institutions. This
dispute and other processes against Cuban patents and trademarks in US Courts
have evidenced the complicity of the United States Government in the plundering
of Cuban rights and trademarks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs demands to the
Government of the United States to immediately issue the license so the Cuban
entity is able to renew Havana Club trademark.
Cuba has invariably respected, without discrimination,
the obligations contracted through the international judicial instruments
referring to the Industrial Property, which have guaranteed that more than five
thousand US trademarks and patents benefit and continue benefiting from their
registry in our country.
Should the United States Government do nothing, it
will be the sole responsible for the plundering of Havana Club trademark from
his legitimate owner, Cubaexport company, and the negative consequences that
could derive from this fact for the reciprocal protection of the
Industrial Property.
Havana, May 17, 2012
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