Battle for 'Loch Ness' to continue
A BITTER legal battle between two drinks companies is set to continue over the right to use the term “Loch Ness”.
Last month the owners of Loch Ness Spirits, which is based in Dores and makes gin and absinthe, won the right to continue using the term after the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) dismissed claims by Aberdeen-based Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky that it had an earlier right to the phrase as one of its first brands was “Loch Ness whisky”.
Duncan Taylor is now set to appeal that decision and is demanding an apology from Loch Ness Spirits for its actions in the case which it says has left it battling to save its reputation.
Loch Ness Spirits owner Lorien Cameron-Ross, however, is determined to fight on and has launched a £30,000 crowdfunding campaign to cover legal costs in the ongoing saga.
This week it came to light that two mediation meetings aimed at finding a solution that would allow both parties to use “Loch Ness” on certain of their products were abandoned at the 11th hour.
Mrs Cameron-Ross said: “I would still consider a win-win situation one where we sit around the table and we agree on a co-operation agreement that allows us both to get what we need for our businesses.
“It is regrettable that it is going back to court as it takes away the energy that we need for the business.
“No-one really wants that to be the case.”
However, speaking out for the first time, Duncan Taylor owner Euan Shand said: “We extended the olive branch to Loch Ness Spirits and we wanted to come to an agreement.
“We don’t want to be going back to court and we would have continued to seek a resolution by working together, but the narrative of the crowdfunding campaign set up by Loch Ness Spirits has changed that.”
On their fundraising page Loch Ness Spirits refers to “a brutal challenge” and adds: “This new attack (the move to appeal) has upped the ante significantly and catapults us into another level of dispute. We are now fighting for the survival of our beloved company.”
Mr Shand added “Almost overnight we started receiving hate mail and our company’s reputation is being damaged by a sustained attack by Loch Ness Spirits.
“We employ at least 20 people in Scotland, and we feel that we now cannot draw back, because our reputation has been questioned.”
Duncan Taylor chief executive Moji Shand said: “This is now a battle to save the reputation of our 80-year-old company.”
Related article: Campaign launched to save 'precious name' of Loch Ness gin and absinthe company
