Message 28891 of 39188 in General Discussion

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> Anyone else think this is complete and utter bullshit?

Yep.

> And what happens when Castro dies, McDonalds and Coke 
> set up shop in Cuba, and the embargo is dropped? What kind of legal 
> dramas will unfold then about the rights to the name Havana Club?

This is the whole point of the ploy, surely.
Establish a 'brand' with no regard to prior claim (after all, the only 
contender is from a country that doesn't count) then when the market opens up, 
either 
- do a marketing push to confuse a populous that will think they are getting a 
newly-released product
- force the real Havana Club to partner with them for distribution, as the 
battle would be too expensive
- or worst case - try and come down on THEM for trademark infringement, as 
legal recognition of the original may end up post-dating the US imposters 
registration. 

I've been in this neighbourhood before re Bacardi itself.
[Dan the Melon Man] Bacardi is as "Cuban" as Smirnoff is "Russian"

.dan.