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Home > What's New > Altadis Wins $900,000 From Counterfeiters
Altadis Wins $900,000 From Counterfeiters
Posted: Tuesday, December 23, 2003
By David Savona Selling Cuban cigar replicas turned out to be an expensive mistake for a south Florida family. On Thursday, Altadis U.S.A. announced that it had won a $900,000 judgment against Pedro Gomez and his sons Edel and Joel. The Gomez family was found guilty of violating Altadis trademarks by selling "Cuban replica" Montecristo, H. Upmann and Romeo y Julieta cigars.
The Gomezes ran Tabacalera Cubana Corp., which Altadis described as a cigar manufacturer, and Tabacalera Popular Cubana Inc., a cigar retailer. Both companies are based in Miami. Federal Judge Ungaro-Benages ruled that the Gomezes were personally liable for the damages.
The judgment was rendered on November 26.
Altadis claimed this was an important case. "Any unauthorized use of Altadis U.S.A.'s trademarks is illegal. Labeling the cigars 'Habana' or calling them 'Cuban replicas' does not make them legal," the company wrote in a statement.
Altadis U.S.A. has aggressively pursued companies that violate its vast portfolio of cigar brand trademarks, among them the U.S. rights to many Cuban cigar brands. The company is the American subsidiary of Altadis S.A., the world’s largest producer of cigars.
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