Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
14. maja 2012. Vrhovni sud Sjedinjenih Država uskratio je kubanskoj kompaniji Cubaexport mogućnost da brani svoje pravo da obnovi registraciju prestižnog brenda Havana Club, pred Kancelarijom za brendove i patente SAD-a (USPTO), zbog negativnog odgovora Kancelarije za kontrolu stranih sredstava (OFAC) koja je deo Odseka blagajne (United States Department of the Treasury), na zahtev kubanskog distributera za dobijanje dozvole koja bi omogućila ponovnu registraciju brenda koji je u ovoj zemlji bio registrovan od 1976. do 2006.
Pomenuti negativan odogovor donet je prema Članu 211 Omnibus zakona koji je odobrio Kongres SAD-a krajem 1998. koji zabranjuje priznavanje i obnavljanje brendova vezanih za vlasništvo koje je kubanska vlada nacionalizovala. Ovo je bio rezultat delanja antikubanske mafije iz Majamija i njenih saveznika iz Kongresa, u naknadu za brojne finansijske priloge koje dobijaju od kompanije Bakardi, koja je stvarni promoter ovih aktivnosti protiv Cubaexport - a, sa ciljem da se uzurpiraju brendovi i tržišta pravog i legitimnog kubanskog ruma.
Od 1995. Cubaexport, zajedno sa francuskom kompanijom Pernod Ricard, distrubutorom ruma Havana Club, brani svoje pravo da registruje poznati brend, uz podršku u vidu odluke Panela za rešavanje spora Svetske trgovinske organizacije (OMC) koji je presudio protiv Sjedinjenih Država i zahtevao eliminaciju pomenutog člana koji je smatran nezakonitim.
Vlada SAD-a je u potpunosti odgovorna za ono što se dogodilo. Tokom sudskog procesa koji je sada nepravedno završen, Kancelarija za kontrolu stranih sredstava je objasnila da neće izdati dozvolu za obnavljanje brenda Havana Club u ovoj zemlji, jer je Stejt Department naredio da se ne izdaje, jer to ne bi bilo u skladu sa politikom SAD-a prema Kubi.
Ovo predstavlja ozbiljno kršenje obaveza Sjedinjenih Država u oblasti Industrijske svojine, koji nalaže da se štite brendovi kubanskih kompanija i institucija. Ova parnica kao i drugi procesi koji su u toku protiv patenata i brendova sa Kube u američkim sudovima, dokaz su saučesništva vlade SAD-a u oduzimanju kubanskih prava i brendova.
Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova zahteva od vlade SAD-a da odmah izda dozvolu koja će omogućiti kubanskoj kompaniji Cubaexport da obnovi brend Havana Club.
Kuba je uvek poštovala, bez diskriminacije, obaveze ustanovljene zakonom koji se odnosi na Industrijsku svojinu, što je garantovalo da je više od pet hiljada američkih brendova i patenata ostvarivalo i ostvarivaće profit od registracije u našoj zemlji.
Ukoliko vlada SAD-a ništa ne preduzme, biće jedini krivac za oduzimanje brenda Havana Club od zakonskog nosioca dozvole, kompanije Cubaexport i za negativne posledice koje bi ovaj događaj mogao imati na zaštitu reciprociteta Industrijske svojine.
Havana, 16. maj 2012.
Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Last May 14, 2012, United States Supreme Court denied to the Cuban company Cubaexport the possibility to defend its right to renew the registry of the prestigious brand Havana Club before the United States Patents and Trademark Office, hindered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury, to provide the Cuban commercial entity the license to renew the trademark registered in that country since 1976 to 2006.
Such denial was issued under the protection of Section 211 of Omnibus Appropriations Act sactioned by the United States Congress at the end of 1998, prohibiting the recognition and renovations of trademarks associated to properties nationalized by the Cuban Government, as a result of the maneuvers of Miami´s anti-Cuban mafia and its allies in Congress, in retribution to the huge financials contributions these receive from Bacardi Company, real promoter of these actions against Cubaexport, aimed at seizing the trademarks and market of a genuinely Cuban rum.
Since 1995, Cubaexport, together with French company Pernod Ricards, distributor of rum Havana Club, has defended its right to register such renowned trademark, which was supported by the decision of the World Trade Organizaton Dispute Settlement Panel that ruled against the United States and requested the elimination of such Section, considered illegal.
The Government of the United States is completely responsible of this situation. During the judicial process that has arrived to its unjust end, OFAC argued that it would not issue the license needed by the spurious Section 211, that would permitted the renovation of Havana Club trademark in that country, because the Department of State had requested no to do so because this would not correspond with the United States´ policy toward Cuba.
This action constitutes a serious violation of the compromises of the United States on the Industrial Property, which obligates it to protect the trademarks of Cuban companies and institutions. This dispute and other processes against Cuban patents and trademarks in US Courts, have evidenced the complicity of the United States Government in the plundering of Cuban rights and trademarks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs demands to the Government of the United States to immediately issue the license so the Cuban entity be able to renew Havana Club trademark.
Cuba has invariably respected, without discrimination, the obligations contracted through the international judicial instruments referring to the Industrial Property, which have guaranteed that more than five thousand US trademarks and patents benefit and continue benefiting from their registry in our country.
Should the United States Government do nothing, it will be the sole responsible for the plundering of Havana Club trademark from his legitimate owner, Cubaexport company, and the negative consequences that could derive from this fact for the reciprocal protection of the Industrial Property.
Havana, May 17, 2012
