Pernod has become embroiled in a dispute with the Czech government over the ownership of the country's second largest spirits company, JBKB, best known for its Becherovka herb liqueur. The government has reversed earlier plans to sell the company to Pernod and halted the privatisation. Pernod bought its 30% stake in 1997 on the understanding it had the option to purchase the state's 59% stake in 2001. The issue has been further complicated by disagreements over the ownership of the Becherovka trademark. Entrepreneur Zdenek Hoffmann lays claim to it on the grounds his grandfather was given the secret recipe for the liqueur. Pernod maintains that the documents that support the case Hoffmann is making are forgeries. and has refused to pay the government outstanding cash from the 1997 deal unless it is awarded full ownership of the trademark. {{NEWS }}