A US district court has ruled in favour of General Cigar Company in a trademark infringement and counterfeiting suit relating to “COHIBA Caribbean’s Finest” cigars and rum.

The company, which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market, has prevailed on its claims which held the defendants liable for trademark infringement, dilution, counterfeiting, unlawful importation, unfair competition and "cybersquatting". As a result, the US District Court for the District of Nevada awarded General Cigar a permanent injunction, plus compensatory and treble damages.
It also permanently prohibited the import, marketing, distribution and sale of infringing “COHIBA Caribbean’s Finest” cigars and rum. COHIBA is a well-known premium cigar that is handcrafted in the Dominican Republic.
The granting of General Cigar’s summary judgment motion resolves a lawsuit it commenced in 2006 as part of the company’s ongoing nationwide efforts to aggressively investigate, pursue and eliminate infringing and counterfeit versions of its products from the marketplace. General Cigar, a subsidiary of Swedish Match, continues to retain a special task force consisting of attorneys and a team of private investigators from across the United States to assist it in its trademark enforcement efforts. (pi)