Gurkha and Davidoff Resolve ‘Year of the Dragon’ Lawsuit
A trademark dispute between Gurkha and Davidoff over the use of “Year of the Dragon” has officially ended in a confidential settlement, concluding one of the more unusual branding battles in the premium cigar world.
Gurkha, Davidoff Settle ‘Year of the Dragon’ Trademark Dispute
The legal dispute between two cigar giants—Gurkha Cigar Group Inc. and Davidoff of Geneva USA Inc.—has come to a close following a confidential settlement. The case, which revolved around the use of the name “Year of the Dragon,” was dismissed last week by Judge William P. Dimitrouleas of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
While specific terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, both parties have agreed to pay their own legal fees. Gurkha’s director of marketing, Bianca Lopez, described the outcome as “an amicable agreement.” Davidoff declined to comment.
The dispute originated in late 2023 when Gurkha filed suit against Davidoff, arguing that the use of “Year of the Dragon” in Davidoff’s 2024 limited edition release infringed on existing trademarks. K. Hansotia & Co., Inc.—a company linked to Gurkha’s owner, Kaizad Hansotia—holds numerous dragon-themed trademarks, including “dragon,” “imperial dragon,” and “royal dragon,” and has also filed a trademark for “Year of Dragon.” That application remains in opposition, and it’s currently unclear how the settlement will affect the ongoing trademark proceedings.
Davidoff’s “Year of the Dragon” release was part of its Zodiac Series, an annual line of limited editions themed after the Chinese zodiac. But Davidoff was far from the only company to celebrate the occasion—numerous brands including Drew Estate, Plasencia, Rocky Patel, and Habanos S.A. also launched dragon-themed cigars in the same year, yet none appeared to face legal action apart from Davidoff.
Gurkha itself released five different blends under the “Year of the Dragon” banner, illustrating the commercial importance the brand places on the theme. Notably, both Gurkha and Davidoff have previously used other zodiac signs in their marketing—such as “Year of the Snake”—which is also trademarked by K. Hansotia & Co.
As the cigar industry looks ahead to the next zodiac year—“Year of the Horse”—there currently appears to be no active trademarks for that term. Whether this quiet conclusion to the dispute signals more peaceful branding strategies going forward remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the intersection of luxury cigars and intellectual property is becoming increasingly complex.
