MOSCOW, April 9 - RAPSI. The US-based SKYY SPIRITS, LLC alcohol producer has filed a lawsuit against the patent service over the early termination of the SKYY trademark’s protection in Russia.

SKYY SPIRITS filed the lawsuit with the Moscow Commercial Court. The hearing was earlier scheduled for June 13.

The patent agency terminated the SKYY trademark’s legal protection in October 2011 upon the Seychelles-based Esmington Corporation’s request. The corporation said the owner does not use the trademark in Russia.

Meanwhile, the Esmington Corporation uses the SKYY phrase for alcoholic drinks and similarly holds the SKY-HI and HI-SKY trademarks for such beverages.

In its decision, the patent agency referred to Esmington’s website, where the company says it has produced and sold various alcoholic drinks in Russia since 2004.

SKYY SPIRITS was founded in 1992, according to its website. Its headquarters is located in San Francisco. The company is backed by parent Gruppo Campari. SKYY SPIRITS claims that it ranks eighth largest spirits company in the United States.