Stolichnaya Belongs to Russia, Dutch Court Tells Vodka Tycoon

摘要

Russia won back the rights to the Stolichnaya and Mosk-ovskaya vodka brands after fighting businessman Yuri Shefler in Dutch courts for more than a decade. The two trademarks belong to Russia, the Rotterdam District Court ruled on March 25. The decision forces Shefler's Dutch company Spirits International to hand over the trademark rights to the country or pay a penalty of 100,000 euros ($109,700) and face an additional daily fine of 50,000 euros, the court said. The ruling, which can be appealed, will force Shefler's company to stop the sale of Stolichnaya and Moskovs-kaya vodka in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.