CITMA 2017: Whisky distillery warns about ‘dark web’ threat

Fraser Morrison, brand protection manager at distillery Edrington Group, has told an industry conference that a real threat for IP owners is the “dark web”.

Morrison was speaking at the morning session of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) annual spring conference in London today, March 16.

He said: “I go onto the dark web regularly, that’s where I find the nasty stuff.”

Morrison explained that Edrington employs a number of authentication devices in order to identify infringement.

He said he can tell within 10 seconds whether it is the “genuine article or not”.

Morrison was speaking about the IP enforcement of Edrington’s brands, which include Cutty Sark, The Famous Grouse, Highland Park and Brugal.

He explained that the Cutty Sark whisky was first marketed in the US in 1923, which was during the prohibition of the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in the country.

The original colour of the bottle was meant to be white, but after a manufacturing error, yellow was chosen instead and it remains today.

The bottle itself has changed “very little” in 94 years. It changed “very subtly” in 1955, but the “trademark has remained the same”, he said.

His overall message to delegates was that infringement of IP, such as trademarks, can happen on the dark web, an encrypted network.

WIPR is attending the CITMA spring conference today and tomorrow.

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