News: Counterfeit Cigars Seized in Florida

[FireRunner]

Interesting read. Over $100,000 in counterfeit cigars.

http://halfwheel.com/counterfeit-cig...-florida/81730

[Bruck]

...look for bargain prices on "Cohiba seconds" at Cigars International any time now...

[BMack]

That's kind of funny, my friend just a couple weeks ago brought "Cohibas" to a get together. The bands were knockoff Cuban Cohibas but said "Dominican Republic" on them where the "Habana, Cuba" is supposed to be. I thought that was pretty odd and then this story comes out...funnier still, he's a cop.

[HabanoMan]

That's kind of funny, my friend just a couple weeks ago brought "Cohibas" to a get together. The bands were knockoff Cuban Cohibas but said "Dominican Republic" on them where the "Habana, Cuba" is supposed to be. I thought that was pretty odd and then this story comes out...funnier still, he's a cop.

@BMack Did they look like this?


If so then this is the old Dominican Cohiba band. (Before the Red Dot)

[TCBSmokes]

My, what tacky shelving that shop has. Besides, General Cigar does not own that Cohiba label, Cuba does, right? And, didn't they (GC) also just lose in court the right to use Cohiba Red Dot, too?

Interesting read. Over $100,000 in counterfeit cigars.

http://halfwheel.com/counterfeit-cig...-florida/81730

[BMack]

@BMack Did they look like this?


If so then this is the old Dominican Cohiba band. (Before the Red Dot)

It said "Dominican Republic" in a similar font as the "Habana, Cuba" font on real Cohibas, also square boxes.

[HabanoMan]

@BMack Did they look like this? LOL



If so from what little knowledge I have of them they are actually "fakes" of the Dominican Cohibas and were being sold to the tourist in the D.R.

[CamoSutra]

Same cigars as in pic from HabanoMan, but with "Cuban" label, were sold to my gf in Mexico. Dog rockets -- but I didn't tell her that, of course.

[wabashcr]

My, what tacky shelving that shop has. Besides, General Cigar does not own that Cohiba label, Cuba does, right? And, didn't they (GC) also just lose in court the right to use Cohiba Red Dot, too?

Not quite. General still owns the Cohiba trademark in the US. What Cuba won was the standing to sue General in US court over that trademark. General argued that the embargo prevented Cuba from being allowed to sue, and Cuba prevailed. Now the actual trademark suit has to progress through the court system. I'd guess there's a pretty strong likelihood General loses their Cohiba trademark at some point, but until then, they might as well protect it however they can.

[TCBSmokes]

Not quite. General still owns the Cohiba trademark in the US. What Cuba won was the standing to sue General in US court over that trademark. General argued that the embargo prevented Cuba from being allowed to sue, and Cuba prevailed. Now the actual trademark suit has to progress through the court system. I'd guess there's a pretty strong likelihood General loses their Cohiba trademark at some point, but until then, they might as well protect it however they can.

@wabashcr . Thank you for the clarification.