MOSCOW, June 9 - RAPSI. The Russian Alcohol Group has appealed a court judgment affirming the patent service's refusal to register the Russian Alcohol trademark, the Moscow Commercial Court told the Russian Legal Information Agency.

The Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks (Rospatent) refused to register the brand as it is confusingly similar to the "Russkaya" ("Russian") and "Russkaya Vodka" ("Russian Vodka") trademarks.

The Russian Alcohol Group sought to register its Russian Alcohol trademark for 22 classes of goods and seven classes of services under ICGS.

The court also involved eight companies, including the state-owned Soyuzplodimport and the owners of the aforementioned trademarks, to act as third parties in the dispute.

The plaintiff sought to invalidate the court judgment for six classes of goods and services, but the Moscow Commercial Court ruled against it.

The Russian Alcohol Group is a major producer of strong alcohol beverages in Russia. It is owned by CEDC, one of the largest vodka producers and distributors in Poland.
CEDC owns the Zubrowka, Bols and Soplica brands.

CEDC distributes over 700 brands, including Remy Martin, Jaegermeister, Metaxa, Corona, Foster's, Jim Beam and Guinness. It also operates in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Circa 90 percent of its shares are in free float.