Recent policy changes relaxed several restrictions around bringing Cuban cigars into the US. Travelers to Cuba will now be able to bring back cigars for personal use, although Cuban cigar-makers are still not allowed to sell to US merchants.

What’s in a Name?

Since Cuban cigars have been banned in the US since the early 1960’s, cigar purchasers in the US were not familiar with Cuban cigar names. Under dictatorship, Cuban cigar names were not officially trademarked, so virtually anyone else could pirate and use those names for their own cigars, regardless of quality, filler type or wrapper. Therefore, US Cigar manufacturers named some domestic cigars after the Cuban types

The Issue

For those cigars sold in the US that are namesakes of genuine Cuban cigars, who has the right to call their cigar that particular name when the trade agreements are fully lifted? Cuba, where the cigar originated from or the other guys who were able to use that name when Cuba became a non-entity?

The Solution

The genuine Cuban cigars are going to be taking up space next to their impostor counterparts, and the fur is going to fly. Lawyers will be licking their chops on this, and probably making some good money on the lawsuits that will be brewing.

But regardless of what happens, you, the consumer, is going to reap the rewards. The chances are great for some fire sales in the near future, and you may be able to pick up some fine smoking stogies for pennies on the dollar regardless of what name they are being sold under!