Bacardi File FOIA In Havana Club Rum Matter
Bermuda-headquartered Bacardi has filed a Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] request with the U.S. Department of Treasury, saying they wish to “bring to light the reasons for the decision to grant the renewal of the illegally obtained trademark registration of Havana Club to the Cuban government, saying “this decision was done in violation of the language and spirit of U.S. law.”
The company said, “Bacardi seeks all documents, communications and files that were created, used, or maintained by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office [PTO], Office of Foreign Assets Control [OFAC], U.S. Department of State, Executive Office of the President of the United States [POTUS], the National Security Council [NSC], U.S. Department of Treasury and/or any third parties relating to the Havana Club rum trademark registration action.
“The action stems from a January 11, 2016, decision by the U.S. government in violation of Section 211 and long-standing OFAC policy toabruptly reverse its position and grant the license. Within 48 hours, after years of inactivity, the PTO approved the renewal of the registration of a trademark for a brand which was confiscated without compensation from its founders into the hands of the Cuban government – even though Congress has prohibited U.S. courts from recognizing it.
“Bacardi purchased the rights to the Havana Club trademark from the creators and original owners – the Arechabala family – who made their rum in Cuba from the 1930s until 1960 and exported it to the U.S. and other countries until their rum-making facilities and assets were illegally seized without compensation during the Cuban revolution.
“Bacardi has been selling Havana Club rum in the United States since the mid-1990s. After numerous legal battles, the Cuban government’s fraudulently obtained U.S. trademark registration for the brand expired in 2006. U.S. courts have consistently ruled that the Cuban government and its joint venture partner have no rights to the Havana Club trademark in the U.S.
“Bacardi has been a long-time supporter of trademark rights for legitimate trademark holders and remains committed to defending the fundamental rights against confiscations without compensation. The company supports both legislation and legal action to uphold the principle of protection of trademarks and ensuring trademarks that have been confiscated by the Cuban government without consent of their rightful owners not be recognized by the international community.
Bacardi has and will continue to pursue all the necessary legal and other actions to defend its position surrounding the legitimacy of its rights and ownership of Havana Club rum. As the company has maintained all along, Bacardi is the legitimate owner of the brand.”
Eduardo Sánchez, senior vice president and general counsel, Bacardi, said, “We are filing this Freedom of Information Act request because the American people have the right to know the truth of how and why this unprecedented, sudden and silent action was taken by the United States government to reverse long-standing U.S. and international public policy and law that protects against the recognition or acceptance of confiscations of foreign governments.
“When the highest and most powerful government agencies are not transparent about critical changes in policy, the public has the right and the responsibility to use FOIA requests and other tools at their disposal to hold the government accountable for its actions.”
“Bacardi believes that vital government agencies should not be able to ignore Lanham Act obligations or disregard the general legal requirements of government agencies and courts under Section 211 and related legislations to protect expropriated properties and uphold critical provisions of the embargo,” adds Mr Sánchez.
