Anheuser-Busch, brewer of Budweiser, announced on May 28th that it had successfully enforced its rights to the Budweiser trademark in Nigeria, securing the company's right to use the name in that country. The Nigerian Trademark Office has refused the Czech brewer, Budejovicky Budvar's request to register the Budweiser name in Nigeria.
"This decision affirms our right to the Budweiser name, as many other courts have agreed, while supporting our view that Budvar has no right to the Budweiser name," said Stephen J. Burrows, president and chief executive officer, Anheuser-Busch International, Inc. "We're pleased with the court's decision because Anheuser-Busch is the brewer that built the Budweiser trademark around the world and began using the Budweiser trademark in 1876, 19 years before the Budejovicky Budvar brewery was established."

Anheuser-Busch has undisputed rights to the Budweiser brand name in most of the world and sells its beer in more than 80 countries. The Nigerian Trademark Office's finding is another significant victory for Anheuser-Busch. After stopping Budvar from using Budweiser in Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Sweden, Anheuser-Busch has demonstrated once again its readiness to fight any infringement of Budweiser and Bud, the trademarks that Anheuser-Busch has made into world-famous icons.
Anheuser-Busch has a strong position in Nigeria, where it has held registrations for the Bud and Budweiser name dating back to 1980 and 1978 respectively.

30 May, 2003