Finnish Market Court Sides with Icelandic Company in “Skyr” Spat

The Finnish Market Court has reportedly backed MS Iceland Dairies
in a legal dispute with Arla Foods over the sale of skyr dairy products
in Finland. According to media reports, the court ruled that “skyr” is
not a generic term for a yogurt-like cultured dairy product, but rather a
specific trademark for a product made in Iceland or Denmark according
to recipes held by MS Iceland Dairies. The decision bars Arla Foods from
marketing or selling skyr in Finland, with violations fetching fines of
€500,000. See Iceland Monitor, October 7, 2015; FoodBev.com, October
13, 2015.

Issue 582