EU: A-B InBev fails in Budweiser trademark case

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 26 March 2009

Anheuser-Busch InBev has failed in its attempt to register the Budweiser name as a protected trademark in the EU.

The European Court of First Instance this week upheld an earlier decision against Anheuser-Busch, now Anheuser-Busch InBev, made by the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM).

The ruling marks a victory for Czech brewery Budejovický Budvar in its long-running dispute with Anheuser over the Budweiser name.

Budejovický Budvar successfully opposed Anheuser's claim to the name in the case before the OHIM. Anheuser then took the case to the Court of First Instance.

Sectors: Beer & cider

Companies: InBev, Anheuser-Busch, Budvar