MOSCOW, December 18 - RAPSI. The Moscow Commercial Court has set January 30, 2013, as the date for holding the main hearing into the lawsuit by the manufacturer of Finnish crisps, Chips Ab, on the premature termination of the legal protection for the Taffel trademark in Russia, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) on Tuesday.

Taffel belongs to Kraft Foods, a major international concern producing packaged products.

The ruling to set the hearing date was imposed following preliminary hearings.

A lawyer for the company told RAPSI that Chips Ab is requesting the legal protection of the Taffel trademark to be halted since it has not been used in Russia for a long time. According to the official website of the plaintiff, Taffel belongs to Chips Ab in Finland, which started its production activities with chips under that brand.

Founded in Finland in 1969 Chips Ab produces chips and frozen potatoes. Chips Ab is a leader in the snack market in Scandinavia and the Baltic States.