Retailers Welcome Kraft V. Euro Excellence Supreme Court Decision
Ottawa, July 26, 2007 – Retail Council of Canada (RCC) welcomed the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in the Kraft V. Euro Excellence case, in which a small Quebec importer fought Kraft Canada over the right to import genuine Toblerone and Côte d'Or chocolate bars directly from Europe.
Kraft Canada attempted to use Canadian copyright law in a "strategy" to "thwart" importation of the genuine products other than through their own exclusive distribution channel.
RCC urged the Court not to allow copyright law to be used in this manner. Retailers were concerned that, if Kraft were to prevail, copyright law could become a tool to restrict competitive parallel importation of an enormous variety of genuine consumer goods ranging from cameras to clothing to computers.
"The Supreme Court of Canada decision confirms the right of Canadian consumers and the retailers who serve them to enjoy access to the best selection of goods from around the world at competitive prices," states Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada.
"Today's ruling vindicates our belief in free trade and competitive international markets, "adds Brisebois. "We have always believed that the purpose of copyright law is to reward the actual creators of our cultural heritage, and not to serve as an artificial barrier to free trade in genuine and legitimate consumer merchandise in a manner that would raise prices and restrict choice."
About Retail Council of Canada
Retail Council of Canada (www.retailcouncil.org) is the Voice of Retail. It is a not-for-profit association representing more than 40,000 stores of all retail formats, including independent merchants, regional and national mass and specialty chains, and online merchants.
For more information, contact: Stephanie Petroff, Manager, National Public Affairs, Retail Council of Canada, (416) 922-0553, ext. 228; e-mail: spetroff@retailcouncil.org.