RUSSIAN STANDARD FILES SUIT AGAINST STOLICHNAYA

Russian Standard Vodka USA filed a lawsuit this week in the Federal District Court of New York against Allied Domecq and Pernod Ricard. Russian Standard is challenging the validity of “the allegedly ‘Russian’ character” of Pernod’s Stolichnaya vodka products, which Russian Standard claims is distilled in Latvia, not Russia, and is in violation of the Lanham Act. Russian Standard “further asserts claims against Defendants for false advertising, false designation of origin, deceptive trade practices, unfair competition and unjust enrichment,” according to court documents.

Russian Standard claims that while Stolichnaya is marketed as a Russian vodka, it has “no affiliation with the Stolichnaya brand products sold within Russia.”
It’s an issue that has been questioned by many in the industry. Pernod and Allied, however, defend Stolichnaya and “have demanded that Russian Standard cease public comment or advertising that raises issues as to the allegedly Russian character of defendants’ Stolichnaya.” More on Monday.