Sec. 307.

(1) A manufacturer and outstate seller of wine shall grant to each of its wholesalers a sales territory within which the wholesaler shall be a distributor of the specified brand or brands of the manufacturer or outstate seller of wine. The territory shall be the territory agreed upon between the wholesaler and manufacturer or outstate seller of wine. A manufacturer or outstate seller of wine may grant the right to sell a specified brand or brands in a sales territory to more than 1 wholesaler.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a brand extension is not considered a new or different brand. A manufacturer or outstate seller of wine shall assign a brand extension to the wholesaler that was granted the sales territory for the brand from which the brand extension resulted.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply where, before January 1, 1994, a manufacturer or outstate seller of wine had assigned a brand extension to a wholesaler that was not the appointed wholesaler for the brand from which the brand extension was made.

(4) Until July 1, 1995, a manufacturer or outstate seller of wine who acquired or otherwise obtained the right to assign brands of another manufacturer or outstate seller of wine between January 1, 1994 and July 1, 1995 shall assign a brand extension to the wholesaler that was granted the sales territory for the brand from which the brand extension resulted. Beginning July 1, 1995, a manufacturer or outstate seller of wine who acquires or otherwise obtains the right to assign brands of another manufacturer or outstate seller of wine is not required to assign a new brand extension to the wholesaler that is granted the exclusive sales territory to the brand from which the new brand extension results. Any brand extension assigned between January 1, 1994 and July 1, 1995 shall remain assigned to the assigned wholesaler.

(5) A manufacturer of a mixed wine drink, mixed spirit drink manufacturer, outstate seller of a mixed wine drink, or outstate seller of mixed spirit drink shall grant to each of its wholesalers an exclusive sales territory in which the wholesaler shall be a distributor of the specified brand or brands of the manufacturer or outstate seller. The territory shall be the territory agreed upon between the wholesaler and the manufacturer of a mixed wine drink, mixed spirit drink manufacturer, outstate seller of mixed wine drinks, or outstate seller of mixed spirit drink.

(6) Notwithstanding subsection (5), a brand extension is not considered a new or different brand. A manufacturer of a mixed wine drink, mixed spirit drink manufacturer, outstate seller of a mixed wine drink, or outstate seller of mixed spirit drink shall assign a brand extension to the wholesaler that was granted the exclusive sales territory for the brand from which the brand extension resulted.

(7) Subsection (6) does not apply where, before January 1, 1994, a manufacturer of a mixed wine drink, mixed spirit drink manufacturer, outstate seller of a mixed wine drink, or outstate seller of mixed spirit drink had assigned a brand extension to a wholesaler that was not the appointed wholesaler for the brand from which the brand extension was made.

(8) Until July 1, 1995, a manufacturer of a mixed wine drink, mixed spirit drink manufacturer, outstate seller of mixed wine drink, or outstate seller of mixed spirit drink who acquired or otherwise obtained the right to assign brands of another manufacturer of a mixed wine drink, mixed spirit drink manufacturer, outstate seller of a mixed wine drink, or outstate seller of mixed spirit drink between January 1, 1994 and July 1, 1995 shall assign a brand extension to the wholesaler that was granted the exclusive sales territory for the brand from which the brand extension resulted. Beginning July 1, 1995, a manufacturer of mixed wine drink, mixed spirit drink manufacturer, outstate seller of mixed wine drink, or outstate seller of mixed spirit drink who acquires or otherwise obtains the right to assign brands of another manufacturer of mixed wine drink, mixed spirit drink manufacturer, outstate seller of mixed wine drink, or outstate seller of mixed spirit drink is not required to assign a new brand extension to the wholesaler that is granted the exclusive sales territory to the brand from which the new brand extension results. Any brand extension assigned between January 1, 1994 and July 1, 1995 shall remain assigned to the assigned wholesaler.

History: 1998, Act 58, Imd. Eff. Apr. 14, 1998