Scotch Whisky Association filing appeal in dispute with N.S. distiller
09/03/07 21:34
The Scotch
Whisky Association of Scotland says it is filing an
appeal of a decision that allowed Canada's only
single-malt whisky maker to continue using the name
of its signature spirit.
Glenora Distillers International Ltd., which operates in the Cape Breton community of Glenville, won a dispute in January over the use of its Glen Breton Rare brand name.
The Scotch Whisky Association, which claimed the brand name leads consumers to believe the whisky was distilled in Scotland, complained to the Trade-Marks Opposition Board in Ottawa.
The board ruled that while a number of scotch whisky makers use the word Glen in their brand names, there is no evidence that Canadians associate the word primarily with Scottish-made spirits.
The Cape Breton distillery has insisted the name is related to local geography, since the distillery uses water from nearby Glenora Falls and sits in a type of narrow valley known as a glen.
The Scotch Whisky Association issued a news released saying it planned to file its appeal Friday, insisting that Glen Breton has been ``unfairly trading on scotch whisky's international reputation.''
``It is not co-incidental that the Glen Breton product has regularly been found mis-described as `scotch,''' the release said.
Glenora doesn't refer to scotch on its packaging.
Scotch whisky, which is a registered trademark, is defined in Scottish law. It must be aged in Scotland for at least three years, and there are strict rules outlining the distilling processes and ingredients.
The Scotch Whisky Association has a long history of legal battles to prevent non-Scottish distillers from using the term.
Glenora has been selling its Glen Breton Rare whisky since 2000.
Glenora Distillers International Ltd., which operates in the Cape Breton community of Glenville, won a dispute in January over the use of its Glen Breton Rare brand name.
The Scotch Whisky Association, which claimed the brand name leads consumers to believe the whisky was distilled in Scotland, complained to the Trade-Marks Opposition Board in Ottawa.
The board ruled that while a number of scotch whisky makers use the word Glen in their brand names, there is no evidence that Canadians associate the word primarily with Scottish-made spirits.
The Cape Breton distillery has insisted the name is related to local geography, since the distillery uses water from nearby Glenora Falls and sits in a type of narrow valley known as a glen.
The Scotch Whisky Association issued a news released saying it planned to file its appeal Friday, insisting that Glen Breton has been ``unfairly trading on scotch whisky's international reputation.''
``It is not co-incidental that the Glen Breton product has regularly been found mis-described as `scotch,''' the release said.
Glenora doesn't refer to scotch on its packaging.
Scotch whisky, which is a registered trademark, is defined in Scottish law. It must be aged in Scotland for at least three years, and there are strict rules outlining the distilling processes and ingredients.
The Scotch Whisky Association has a long history of legal battles to prevent non-Scottish distillers from using the term.
Glenora has been selling its Glen Breton Rare whisky since 2000.
|