Corona loses trademark bid
The European distributor of Mexican beer Corona has lost its seven-year battle to trademark its bottle and wedge of lime.
The European Court of Justice ruled that Eurocermex could not stop other brands using a slice of lemon or lime in the top of a bottle because it was standard practice in the drinks industry. The case was originally filed in 1998.
The Belgian-based distributor hoped to register a three-dimensional trademark consisting of a clear bottle containing yellow liquid with a slice of lemon plugged in the neck in much the same way as Coca-Cola trademarked its bottle.
'Pub owners, beer producers and the brewing industry should all breathe a sigh of relief as the European Court of Justice has ruled against Corona in effect monopolising what is a fairly standard practice in the drink's industry plugging a wedge of lemon or lime in a light, bottled beer, said Clarke Graham of trademark solicitors Marks & Clerk.
If the court had ruled in favour of Eurocermex, Corona would have been the only drink bar staff could have served with a slice of lime if they wanted to avoid trademark infringement.
Graham said: 'Even if Joe Public specifically requested another brand with a wedge, he would most certainly be refused unless the pub was willing to face potentially being sued by the distributor.
