PERNOD RICARD KEEPS RIGHTS FOR ARARAT COGNAC

EASTBUSINESS.ORG
May 15, 2006 Monday 4:09 PM (Central European Time)

Pernod Ricard, maker of Chivas Regal and Martell cognac, won a ruling
from the Russian government upholding its rights to the Ararat cognac
brand, a mark of quality since the Soviet era, Vedomosti reported.

The Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks
ordered the Ararat Cognac Factory in St. Petersburg to stop using the
brand after Paris-based Pernod filed a complaint, the newspaper said,
citing copy of the agency’s ruling.

Pernod bought the rights to the Ararat cognac brand in Russia and
Armenia from the Armenian government “shortly after” Armenia sold its
St. Petersburg factory to Russian investors in 2002, Vedomosti said.