Wild Geese wins right to enter Australian market after court ruling

The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey is now able to enter the Australian market after winning a key ruling.

Five Australian Federal Court judges unanimously found in favour of an appeal by the independent Irish company concerning the non-use of trade marks by Campari-owned Wild Turkey.

The Wild Geese has won the right to access the Australian market following the Australian Federal Court decision

Wild Turkey took assignment of the ‘Wild Geese’ trademark in 2007, when it was owned by Pernod Ricard, in what The Wild Geese said was an attempt to block it from entry in the Australian market.

The action, initiated by Pernod Ricard in 2002 and then taken up by Campari when Wild Turkey was sold in 2013, sought to secure the trademark.

However, the Australian Federal Court found that while the ‘Wild Geese’ trademark had been used by Wild Turkey between 2007 and 2010 it was done so incorrectly. It also awarded indemnity costs to The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey.

Commenting on the decision, The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey Co-Founder and Chairman Ándre Levy stated: “This is an important day for us and the Irish whiskey industry as a whole. The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey has been involved in a 14-year legal battle with Pernod Ricard involving over 50 separate actions around the world, all of which we have successfully defended. This includes the US where The Wild Geese is sold as The Wild Geese Soldiers & Heroes.

“These actions sought to limit the market access of The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey and other smaller independent brands of which we are a representative. Despite the supposed renaissance of Irish whiskey, the reality is that the industry is still dominated by large organisations such as Pernod Ricard.

“We continue to fight for our right to contribute to the Irish whiskey category which we have been a part of since 1999. Therefore, to ensure our continued growth and success, we have been forced to buy Irish whiskey at a premium from third parties who have been able to access whiskey that we are unable to purchase directly from large producers.

“Big company tactics are designed to remove competition. We epitomise the spirit of The Wild Geese; it’s not just an abstract – something that big company may wish to reflect upon.”

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