China: Budvar’s victory in the dispute with Anheuser-Busch

Czech brewery Budejovicky Budvar has won a trademark dispute with its rival Anheuser-Busch in China, Prague Daily Monitor communicated on Tuesday, August 2.

"Our trademarks will be registered only if the Americans do not appeal by the set deadline," stated Petr Samec, Budvar spokesman. The dispute in China begun in 1999.

"Still, we are glad. Demand for foreign beer is only beginning to grow, but this market has big potential for us in the future," said Jiri Bocek, Budvar chief executive.

Budejovicky Budvar and Anheuser-Busch have been arguing over the right to use the Budweiser name and other trademarks for 99 years.

They are involved in 40 trademark disputes and more than 70 administrative proceedings at patent offices worldwide. Budvar has registered in more than one hundred countries 380 trademarks.

03 August, 2005