Pernod Ricard has hit a setback in its attempt to prevent rival drinks firms in India from using the word ‘imperial’ on their labels.

India’s Supreme Court has refused to interfere in the case, despite an appeal from Pernod Ricard, the French wine and spirits firm has confirmed to just-drinks.

Pernod sells Imperial Blue blended Scotch whisky in India and has filed legal action to prevent rivals from using the same term on their own products.

However, a Delhi High Court panel ruled on appeal last autumn that one of the distillers in the case, Rhizome Distilleries, could continue to use the “Imperial Gold” name on its bottles as long as the word Rhizome is displayed more prominently.

Rhizome could continue to do this, the appeal judges said, until Pernod’s full lawsuit to gain exclusivity over the Imperial name has been settled.

This could take more than five years, a Pernod spokesperson told just-drinks last week. She said Pernod challenged the appeal judges’ decision in the Supreme Court because the firm “was not prepared to wait indefinitely” on the Rhizome case.

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A Supreme Court judge declined to interfere, but did order that a decision be made within three months.

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