Fight over the 'Bud' trademark finally comes to an end
The battle between Anheuser-Busch and Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar over the ownership of the "Bud" trademark has finally been brought to an end in the UK.
A House of Lords ruling, refusing an application by Anheuser-Busch to revoke the trademark, looks to have settled one of the most notorious and long-running legal battles in the drinks industry.
The ruling, which prevents further legal action by Anheuser-Busch in British courts, has finally thwarted efforts by the American brewer to block Budvar from using the famous "Bud" trademark in the UK, Budweiser's second largest market.
The three Law Lords, who gave no reason for preventing any further legal proceedings, also issued a ruling allowing Budvar to print the name "Budweiser" on its bottles.
John Harley, chief executive of Budweiser Budvar in the UK, said the ruling also opened up the way for the introduction of Bud Super Strong, 7.2 per cent ABV, which is brewed alongside Budvar in the Czech Republic. The release of Bud Super Strong has been earmarked for late spring.
"We're absolutely over the moon," he added. "It puts to rest action that's been on-going from the mid-1970s. It's been a long journey, but this should mean Anheuser-Busch can't do more about the Bud trademark ever again - it lays the demon to rest." The US company has successfully blocked Budvar from using the Budweiser name in countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand and Spain.
Litigation between the two companies looks set to continue in these and other markets outside the UK.
The wrangling between the two brewers hit the UK in the 1970s when the two beers were launched. Budvar claims that the Czech city of Ceske Budejovice (known as Budweis in German), where the beer is brewed, is the original place of brewing for Budweiser.
Meanwhile, Budvar is attempting to ease its entry into the upmarket pub and bar sector with the release of its "Boheme" glass (pictured).
The stemmed glass is widely used in the Czech Republic and is now available to recognised Budvar stockists in the UK.
