Merchant & Gould, an intellectual property law firm, today announced that its client, Champagne Louis Roederer, producer of Cristal Champagne® won a major trademark litigation victory. United States District Court Judge Joan Ericksen ruled that a permanent injunction be issued against J. Garcia Carrion, S.A., and its U.S. importer, CIV USA, enjoining them from selling CRISTALINO brand cava. The Court ruled that the CRISTAL mark was a strong brand, that CRISTALINO infringed the CRISTAL trademark, and permanently enjoined the use of the CRISTALINO name.

Merchant & Gould's trial team was Allen Hinderaker, Jack Clifford, and Heather Kliebenstein. They successfully protected a prestigious, aspirational brand against infringement from a lower-priced product. Jack Clifford, co-lead counsel for Champagne Louis Roederer, said, "Now that this lengthy legal battle has reached a favorable conclusion, I know just the thing to make the celebration even more special."

CRISTAL is the world's first prestigious champagne and the jewel of the House of Champagne Louis Roederer. The first bottle was produced in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia. It remains faithful to its origin, inspired by elegance and purity.

Other attorneys involved from Merchant & Gould are Beth Zidones and Greg Golla. The lawsuit is Champagne Louis Roederer v. J. Garcia Carrion, S.A. and Friend Wine Marketing, Inc. d/b/a CIV USA, 06-CV-213. Inquiries can be directed to Mr. Xavier Barlier, vice president of marketing and communications for Maisons Marques & Domaines, the U.S. Importer of Champagne Louis Roederer products:

Maisons Marques & Domaines
383 Fourth Street, Suite 400
Oakland, California 94607
Phone: (510) 587-2000
Fax: (510) 587-2010