Czech Republic: Budvar "reviewing" Italy Budweiser trademark ruling

Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar NP Wednesday said it is reviewing a decision by an Italian appeals court that stripped it of its rights to the 'Budweiser' trademark in Italy, according to MarketWatch, March 23.

"At this moment our lawyers are reviewing the issue and we have no further comment," said Petr Samec, spokesman for Budejovicky Budvar.

Earlier Wednesday, U.S. brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. said an Italian appeals court had ruled in Anheuser-Busch's favor, ordering the cancellation of three registered trademarks held by Czech brewer.
The two companies are entangled in more than 40 trademark disputes around the world, over rights to the 'Budweiser' trademark. The companies have disputed the trademark since 1911.

Anheuser-Busch holds exclusive rights to the 'Budweiser' trademark in the U.S., although elsewhere the trademark variously belongs to one or other of the breweries, depending on local court rulings.
Budejovicky Budvar uses the 'Budvar' brand within the Czech Republic and abroad uses mainly the 'Budweiser' brand for the beer.

Both brewers named their beer 'Budweiser' after the Czech city Ceske Budejovice, called Budweis in German.

23 March, 2007