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Anheuser-Busch Loses ‘Budweiser’ Trademark Court Battle

Legally refreshing.
Legally refreshing. Photo: iStockphoto

Anheuser-Busch InBev lost its battle to secure the trademark to the Budweiser name in Britain against Czech brewery Budejovicky Budvar, a company that also makes a beer called Budweiser, reports Reuters. Anheuser-Busch is technically the older brewery, NPR reports, but because its hometown name of Ceske Budejovice translates to “Budweis” in German, the Czech brewers’ claim extends to broader cultural territory. Plus, they registered their name in England a year before Anheuser-Busch. The two beer companies will now share the trademark in Great Britain and dueling Budweisers will be sold side by side, at least until one of them registers “Budweisest” as a trademark. [Reuters, NPR]

Anheuser-Busch Loses ‘Budweiser’ Trademark Court Battle