Czech Republic: Budejovicky Budvar welcomes EU’s ruling against Anheuser-Busch

A European Union trademarks authority has rejected a request by Anheuser-Busch Co. to register its Budweiser trademark throughout Europe - a victory for Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar in the latest round of its global legal battle with the US beer giant, according to The Associated Press, April 20.

An appeals council of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market rejected Anheuser-Busch's application last week, saying the Czech company has "proven rights to the international trademark Budweiser'," according to a statement released by Budvar yesterday.

Anheuser-Busch first applied for the trademark at the EU trademarks authority, based in Alicante, Spain, in 1999 and Budvar objected to the move. The office ruled in Budvar's favour in 2005 and Anheuser-Busch appealed that decision.

Last week's ruling is final, but Anheuser-Busch can challenge it with a lawsuit against the trademarks authority at the EU's Court of First Instance in Luxembourg, Budvar said.

"The latest ruling by OHIM is another key success for us," Budvar spokesman Petr Samec said. "A victory for Anheuser-Busch could theoretically complicate the use of our Budweiser' trademarks, which we have registered in a number of European Union countries," Samec said.

Anheuser-Busch did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

The two brewers have been fighting a century-long legal battle in a number of countries over use of the famous Budweiser brand, which both companies claim a historical right to use. The companies are involved in about 40 lawsuits worldwide.

The Budweiser trademark is currently granted to only one of the rivals in any given country, except Britain where a court ruling allowed both brewers to sell their versions of Budweiser.

The dispute continues to be fought out in courts throughout Europe. Recently, Anheuser-Busch won a right for the Budweiser brand name in Italy, while the Czechs claimed a victory in Portugal.

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