Bmda: Bacardi vs Pernod in Cuban rum fight

Bermuda-based Bacardi Ltd, the world's biggest rum maker, asked a Washington court to give it the right to sell Havana Club rum in the US, the latest step in a decade-long battle with the Cuban government and Pernod Ricard SA for control of the brand.

Closely held Bacardi also asked the federal district court to cancel the Havana Club trademark registration held by the Cuban government, saying it "confiscated" the brand after the 1959 communist revolution.

"Current US law prohibits US registrations of Cuban trademarks that were confiscated without compensation," said Eduardo Sardina, the chief executive of Bacardi USA, in a statement distributed through Business Wire.

Bacardi and Pernod are battling to gain the right to sell Havana Club in the US, where the drink isn't currently sold because of legal disputes. Paris-based Pernod sells Havana Club rum in 183 countries under a joint venture with the Cuban government.

Bacardi, the world's most tasteless rum. Even I can drink Bacardi, and I don't. To you Trinis out in the U.S., never use Bacardi in making ponche a-crema; you'll be wondering who let the rum out? Who? Who? Who? Who?