The Philippines spirits group, Tanduay Distillers Inc., owned by tycoon Lucio Tan, is suing its larger competitor, Ginebra San Miguel Inc., for PHP112m damages after San Miguel won a court order last week preventing Tanduay from selling its Ginebra Kapitan gin brand.
San Miguel has alleged that Kapitan is a copy of its Ginebra San Miguel brand and lodged a PHP100m civil infringement suit against Tanduay.
Tanduay said in a statement that it filed a counterclaim suit at a lower court on 26 September. Tanduay is claiming that there is no other basis for San Miguel’s suit other than to “embarrass, annoy and inconvenience Tanduay and to besmirch its reputation.”
Tanduay also alleges that the Ginebra San Miguel suit has impacted on the marketing of Ginebra Kapitan leading to lower sales and losses.
