Anheuser-Busch Loses Trademark Battle

Posted by Angie Rayfield Mar 29, 2009

This week, the European Court of First Instance handed down their ruling in the trademark battle in the EU, and they ruled in favor of Budejovicky Budvar. Budvar successfully proved that they had been using the brand name Budweiser for at least 5 years before A/B applied for the EU trademark.

This trademark battle has been literally going on for years, and Anheuser-Busch has fought Budvar in almost every jurisdiction imaginable. A/B succeeded in blocking Budvar in Finland, Spain, Denmark, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, but has lost their battles in the UK, and now the EU.

Both companies can claim a long history with the name - both "Budweiser" brands were released in 1876.