Russia: Baltika Breweries fail to register Zatecky Gus as beer trademark

Rospatent, Russia’s Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trade Marks, has recently refused to allow the application of Baltika Breweries, the largest Russian brewery, register the word mark ZATECKY GUS as a trade mark for beer, RAPSI reported on December, 28.

This decision is based on the perception that the mark included the word ‘Zatecky,’ an adjective derived from ‘Zatec’, an old Czech town that produces its own beer under the ZATEC mark. ZATECKY GUS could therefore mislead consumers as to the origin of goods.

Baltika Breweries, based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, argued that its reputation would prevent consumers from being misled. It is not currently known whether the brewery was planning to appeal. Part of the Carlsberg Group, Baltika is the largest brewery in Eastern Europe and holds 40% of Russia’s beer market.

30 December, 2011