Benelux: Czech brewing company Budejovicky Budvar announced on January 27 that it gained the right to sell its beer under its original brand names in the Benelux region, winning the latest round of its global legal battle against U.S. beer force, Anheuser-Busch Ltd., Associated Press posted on January 27.
The Commercial Court of Brussels ruled on Jan 13. to uphold the Czech company's rights for the Budweiser Budvar, Budvar, Budweiser and Budiwoyz trademarks in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Budvar said in a statement. In a case which dates back to 1979, the court rejected Anheuser-Busch's claims that Budvar had no right to have the beer labels registered in those countries because it didn't use them for their products. "We are very pleased that the court rejected their claims and upheld our rights to these trademarks," said Jiri Bocek, Budvar's general director.
Anheuser-Busch still may appeal the verdict, Budvar said.
The two companies have been battling over Budweiser and other trade names, such as Budvar, for a century. Currently, they are involved in some 40 lawsuits worldwide.
Budejovicky Budvar was founded in 1895 in Ceske Budejovice - called Budweis by the German-speaking people that populated the area at the time. Beer has been brewed there since 1265.
The founders of Anheuser-Busch used the name Budweiser for their product because it was well-known in their German homeland. The St. Louis brewery got its start in 1852. It began producing Budweiser, America's first national beer brand, in 1876.
Since 2001, Budvar has been exporting lager to the Unites States under the name Czechvar.
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