Russian Vodka Maker Captures ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Trademark

The Kristall distillery from Russia’s Kaluga region has won the right to use the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trademark for alcoholic beverages.

On July 11, the Supreme Court of Russia rejected the appeal from Rospatent, putting an end to a months-long legal battle.

The company can now legally market beer, cider, rum, vodka, and whiskey under this name—but without using the likenesses of characters from Disney’s famous films, Kommersant reports.

The trademark application for both Russian and English versions was filed in 2022, but Rospatent refused registration, citing concerns that the name is identical to a well-known movie title and could mislead consumers.

According to a survey cited by the agency, 81% of Russians associate the name with the Disney franchise.

However, the Intellectual Property Court sided with the distillery, noting that "Pirates of the Caribbean" is a historical and literary term, not the exclusive property of Disney.

The court also pointed out that Disney does not produce alcoholic beverages, and the company itself did not file objections with Rospatent regarding the trademark registration.

Experts emphasize that while the distillery cannot use characters from the Disney films, pirate-themed imagery such as skulls, sabers, and ships is allowed.

Kristall has a history of similar disputes: it previously litigated with Jägermeister over label designs and has registered brands like "Fantômas" and "Gatsby."

According to plant owner Pavel Pobedkin, the court’s decision paves the way for Russian companies seeking to register brands once associated with Western corporations. Kristall is already planning to promote its new pirate-themed brand.