More On Counterfiet Cigars

According to federal government statistics, Americans smoked about 5.1 billion large cigars in 2005 and spent about $3.2 billion on all cigars. Of those, about 321 million were classified as premium — that is, they were handmade, usually comprised of long tobacco filler instead of chopped tobacco, and retailed for at least $1 apiece. Such cigars can run upward of $30 each.

Altadis USA, a subsidiary of Spanish tobacco giant Altadis SA, holds the trademark rights to many of the best-known Cuban cigar brands including Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta and H. Upmann. New York-based General Cigar Co. holds the rights to Cohiba, Partagas, Macanudo and other premium brands.

Because cigars from communist Cuba cannot be sold legally in the United States, Altadis makes its Cuban heritage cigars marketed in this country in the Dominican Republic. The Spanish parent, however, can market the real Cuban cigars around the world under the same brands.

That means anyone who uses those brands to market a cigar as made in "Habana" or as a "Cuban replica" is either violating the U.S. embargo against Cuba or the trademark rights of Altadis, General Cigar and other companies. Altadis USA, which has 7,800 employees and had 2005 revenue of about $700 million, has been leading the charge against counterfeiters using its own private investigators to assist police.

...is this a real Montecristo?

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