Battle Brews Over Brew’s Trademark
It’s enough to make Pyotr Smirnov turn in his grave.
A century after the death of the great vodka entrepreneur, one of his descendants is fighting a U.S. firm for the right to sell Russia’s favorite spirit under his name.
“I’m the direct descendant of Pyotr Smirnov through the male line, and I have documentary proof,” said Boris Smirnov, who plans to start making vodka according to what he says is a traditional family recipe in the next two months.
His rival in the vodka war is Smirnoff, which also claims descent from the original Smirnov and is keen to return to its Russian roots.
The French-spelled Smirnoff trademark is held by Heublein Inc. of the United States, a subsidiary of leisure and drinks giant Grand Metropolitan PLC of Britain.
The battle is of more than passing interest in Russia because it is probably the world’s biggest vodka market.
The dispute began when Russia’s patent office accepted a trademark application from Boris Smirnov last year, then rejected a later bid by Smirnoff on the grounds that the names were too similar.
Smirnoff is appealing the ruling. If it loses, Volkov said, it will have to change its label in order to sell vodka in Russia.
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