MOSCOW, May 29 - RAPSI. The Moscow Commercial Court has sided with Italy's Bulgari S.p.A. and has terminated Almaz-M company trademarks' legal protection, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com).

According to the patent authority, Almaz-M had registered the Coral, White Coral and Red Coral trademarks for perfume, toothpaste, essential oils and baby food under the ICGS.

Bulgari S.p.A. filed a lawsuit to cease the trademarks' legal protection early, alleging that the defendant did not use them. Bulgari has been manufacturing a line of similarly branded perfume since 1992 using the word "coral".

The defendant failed to appear before the court. Bulgari declared that all the documents it had forwarded to Almaz-M had been returned with marks that the company does not exist at the given address.

Bulgari makes jewelry, perfume, beauty products, clothes, shoes and accessories. It also operates a renowned retail chain. The media has reported that French-based Moet Hennessy-Louis Vuitton, the world's leading luxury goods producer, is likely to acquire Bulgari S.p.A. The acquisition would boost its share of the Russian premium perfume and cosmetics market to 16-17 percent and its jewelry market share to 9-10 percent.

Almaz-M is located in Odintsovo in the Moscow Region. It produces perfumes and cosmetics.