MOSCOW, September 30 - RAPSI, Natalia Belova. A court set October 27 to hear a patent watchdog's appeal against lower court decisions regarding the invalidity of its refusal to register the "Russian Alcohol" ("Russky Alkogol") trademark, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI) on Friday.

The Russian Alcohol Group is a major producer of strong alcohol beverages in Russia. CEDC, one of the largest vodka producers and distributors in Poland, holds a 100-percent stake in the company. CEDC owns the Zubrowka, Bols and Soplica brands.

CEDC distributes more than 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. Some 90 percent of its shares are in free float.

On March 14, the Moscow Commercial Court satisfied a lawsuit by the Russian Alcohol Group and invalidated the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks' (Rospatent) refusal to register the Russian Alcohol trademark.

The appellate instance left the decision in force.

The service then filed a cassation appeal.

The service refused to register the brand since it is confusingly similar to the "Russkaya" ("Russian") and "Russkaya Vodka" ("Russian Vodka") trademarks.