Washington, February 24 (RHC) – A ruling this week by the U.S. Supreme Court favored Cuba in litigation underway for several years against an American company, which was illegally marketing Dominican cigars under the Cuban brand Cohiba.

The Court refused to consider an appeal filed by the Delaware-based General Cigar company, thus maintaining a ruling by a federal appeals court issued in June 2014 that favored the Cuban company.

Following Monday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, Cuba can request the cancellation of the patent on the Cohiba brand registered by General Cigar, which must be addressed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

General Cigar has been marketing Cohiba cigars, produced in the Dominican Republic, in the United States. However, the Cuban company Cubatabaco is banned from selling its cigars on the U.S. market due to Washington's commercial, financial and economic blockade against the island, although it can sell the cigars in other countries.

Culbro Corp, a company purchased by General Cigar, registered the Cohiba brand in the United States in 1981 and got the patent again in 1995. Cuba registered the brand in 1972 in its territory, and later in over 100 countries.

In April 2013, Cuba accused the United States of stealing local commercial brands, following a litigation between Cubatabaco company and General Cigar.

The most recent measures announced by President Barack Obama allow U.S. citizens visiting Cuba to import up to 100 dollars in cigars, one of the most famous products of the island.