Russia: A dispute might arise between the largest players in the Russian beer market concerning brand names. According to Russian media, BBH holding is launching on the national scale distribution network its brand “Tri Tolstyaka”, similar with the famous Sun Interbrew’s brand “Tolstyak”. Moreover, BBH is positioning its brand in the same market segment as Sun Interbrew. Sun Interbrew has already declared about the infringement of intellectual property rights. The coordinator of the committee for intellectual property protection announced the rightness of Sun Interbrew in this dispute, saying that Tolstyak brand is already well known and is associated with the beer from Sun Interbrew.

Beer “Tri Tolstyaka” is brewed since November last year by “Zolotoy Ural” brewery, based in Chelyabinsk, which now is merged with “Vena” (BBH). So far this brand was sold only in its region. Now Vena has already signed agreements with the largest Russian distributors about selling “Tri Tolstyaka” all over Russian beer market.

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