Classic Liquor Importers, Ltd. v. Spirits International B.V.

OPINION AND ORDER

JED S. RAKOFF, United States District Judge.

This trademark infringement and false advertising dispute pits plaintiff Classic Liquor Importers, Ltd. (“Classic Liquor”), a newcomer to the liquor business that recently launched a line of vodkas under the mark ROYAL ELITE, against Spirits International B.V. (“SPI”), a well-established industry player. Among other things, this case concerns whether plaintiffs use of its ROYAL ELITE mark infringes defendant’s marks in variations of the term ELIT, which defendant uses in conjunction with its “elit by Stolichnaya” vodka brand. Before…