Mocne

Mocne (Polish for "Strong") is a Polish brand of cigarettes, currently owned and manufactured by Imperial Tobacco.

History

Mocne was launched in the 1950s in a variety of designs and by several factories of the state-owned tobacco monopoly, Wytwórnia Wyrobów Tytoniowych. In the early 1990s the brand was bought by the Reemtsma company, now a subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco. Since then a variety of consumer choices were added, including Lights, Menthol and Extra Lights. In addition to the traditional soft packet, a hard packet was also introduced.

Controversy

Trademark dispute

In August 2006, it was reported that Imperial Tobacco Polska filed a request for invalidation of the right of protection for "AS MOCNY t" R-139925 registered for Tobacco Plants in Lublin Spółka Akcyjna.

The Supreme Administrative Court in its judgment of 25 May 2006 case file II GSK 64/06 held that the word "mocne" (in English: "strong") itself that is used as an indication of cigarettes, has not sufficient distinctive character as a trade mark. It may appear as part of a trade mark, but on a distinctive characteristic of a trade mark, which includes the word "mocne", will decide other words or images and the word "mocne" will remain a purely informational sign that could not become distinctive through use as a trade mark, even in a long term.

The SAC held that all manufacturers of cigarettes have the right to use purely informational sign to indicate the quality of cigarettes sold.