Cuba is suing a Kansas City, Kansas company over its use of the word "Havana" to describe some of its products.
Habanos is run by the Cuban government and says cigar cutter company Xikar is infringing on the government's trademark of the word "Havana."
Xikar sells a cigar accessories collection called the "Havana Collection." According to the suit, Cuba says Xikar "promotes it's goods by deliberately and falsely associating those goods with Havana, Cuba" even though the items are not made in Havana.
Xikar is the world's leading manufacturer of cigar cutters. The suit came as a big surprise to the company. It says it's surprising that "the Cuban government would attempt to extend its totalitarian influence to control an American company using our courts."
Xikar went on to say it's not legal for Cuba to conduct business with the United States, and "Xikar is not referring to cigars in their application, they are referring to accessories and are using the name 'Havana Collection' to denote the style and culture of Havana."
Monday, November 10, 2008
Source: MyFox Chattanooga
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