MOSCOW, March 15 - RAPSI. The Moscow District Federal Commercial Court will hear on April 12 Elitvoda.Ru's appeal against the court decision awarding the Heineken Ceska republika brewery $6,700 in compensation for illegal brand use.
The Ninth Commercial Appeals Court held for Heineken Ceska republika in its lawsuit to recover 200,000 rubles ($6,700) in damages from Elitvoda.Ru on December 12, 2011.
The appeals court revoked the Moscow Commercial Court's September 20, 2011 judgment dismissing Heinekens 400,000 ruble lawsuit against the defendant.
The trial court stated in its decision that Elitvoda.Ru imported into Russia a shipment of "Krusovice Imperial," "Krusovice Musketur" and "Krusovice Сеrne" beer without obtaining the trademark owner's consent.
Earlier, Heineken Ceska republika's lawyer Vladimir Dmitriyev said under Russian law only trademark owners are authorized to import trademarked goods listed in the Customs IP Registry. Otherwise, the customs office must arrest the shipment.
Heineken told the court that the beer imported by Elitvoda.Ru is of an original quality, but it never allowed the defendant to import it into Russia.
The Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinwes.com) has yet to obtain comments from Elitvoda.Ru.
Heineken is a Dutch brewer founded in 1863. Its companies in Russia include Heineken Brewery, St. Petersburg's Stepan Razin Brewery and other companies.