The Scotch Whisky Association has registered the term ‘Scotch Whisky’ as a trademark in the US.
The move, confirmed this week, will support the industry in its efforts to curb counterfeit Scotch in the country. According to the industry-funded trade organisation, the US joins around 100 countries in providing “specific legal protection’ against products that use the term but do not originate from Scotland or meet the terms of definition.
Chief executive Mark Kent clarified the registration, stating that the SWA is now in a position to “take action against those who seek to cash in on the heritage, craft and quality of genuine Scotch”.
The US is the largest export market for Scotch in value terms, although the single malt segment has spent the last 15 months recovering from the removal of a tariff introduced by the country during the Trump administration. The tariff, set at 25% on implementation in late 2019, was halted in March last year.
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