Protection of Raffaello Trademark in Ukraine - Ferrero Group Hopes for a Just Decision of the Supreme Economic Court of Ukraine

The Supreme Economic Court of Ukraine will resume the examination of the claim of Ferrero Group against ZAO “Landrin” on October 13, 2009 Kiev, October 12, 2009 – Tomorrow, October 13 2009 the Supreme Economic Court of Ukraine will resume in examination of a cassation claim of Soremartec S. A. (Ferrero Group) against the rejection of a law suit for the prohibition to Landrin (St. Petersburg, Russia) to use the trademark owned by Soremartec S. A. and protecting an original image of Raffaello praline, as well as against the decision to stop the legal protection of the aforementioned trademark in Ukraine. The decisions in question were issued by the Kiev Business Court on June 15, 2009. Ferrero Group actively protects its intellectual rights at all markets where its products are represented. Recently Ferrero Group managed to defend its trademark rights in Russia. On April 14, 2009 the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation had finally confirmed the prohibition to Landrin to produce and distribute “Landrin Waferatto Classic” pralines being confusingly similar to Raffaello pralines. On August 31, 2009 the Appellate Court for the Ninth Circuit confirmed legitimacy of trademark registration protecting the original image of Raffaello pralines on the territory of Russia. Ferrero Group will pursue every means of legal protection available to maintain its intellectual rights on the territory of Ukraine. The company welcomes open and fair competition and will undoubtedly continue protecting its products, which are a result of years of painstaking research and substantial investments. Ferrero sincerely hopes that standards of business ethics of Ukraine and the country’s membership in the Word Trade Organization give good grounds for full-fledged protection of intellectual property rights on Ukrainian market. For further information, please contact: Marina Tatarskaya ZAO «Ferrero Russia» tel./fax: (495) 961-2400 [email protected] Tatyana Shulga ZAO «Ferrero Ukraina» tel./fax: (044) 24-1935/36 [email protected]