“French” wine for US market, actually Moldovan; winery causes 5 million lei loss to French company
A Moldovan company allegedly produced and exported wine branded as French to the United States of America (USA). Law enforcement officers uncovered a scheme involving copyright infringement, with estimated damages of around five million lei.
The French trademark owner alerted the authorities in Paris, prompting both Interpol and Europol to notify the Moldovan Border Police.
According to the Border Police, the company started manufacturing and exporting wines under the disputed brand name to the USA in 2020. However, they did this without negotiating the necessary rights, which would have involved specific conditions and costs.
Border police officers and prosecutors from the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS) conducted searches at the homes and vehicles of several individuals associated with the targeted company, both in Chisinau and at the wine factory located outside Chisinau.
Law enforcement officials seized materials and items from the sites for examination as part of the ongoing criminal investigations. These items include packaging, label samples that may infringe on French copyright, contracts, invoices, and other pertinent documents.
In the meantime, exports from the company under investigation to the US have been suspended, and the criminal investigation continues under the supervision of PCCOCS prosecutors.
