Licensing Entity Does Not Have Standing To Enforce Trademark Rights in ‘Stolichnaya’

An entity created by the Russian government to administer its rights in the “Stolichnaya” trademark for vodka did not have standing to sue under federal trademark law, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled Aug. 5 (Fed. Treasury Enter. Sojuzplodoimport v. SPI Spirits Ltd., 2d Cir., 11-4109-cv, 8/5/13).

Affirming dismissal of the Russian entity’s claims for lack of standing, the court also held that in order to be a “legal representative” for the purposes of bringing a trademark claim on behalf of the owner of a trademark, the plaintiff must show not only the legal ...