ANHEUSER-BUSCH WINS BUDWEISER TRADEMARK DISPUTE IN NEW ZEALAND
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
New Zealand Court Of Appeals Orders Budejovicky Budvar To Stop Using Budweiser Name
Anheuser-Busch, brewer of Budweiser, has successfully enforced its rights to the Budweiser trademark in New Zealand,
securing the company's exclusive right to use the Budweiser name in that country.
The New Zealand Court of Appeals ruled that Czech brewer, Budejovicky Budvar, must stop importing, advertising,
offering for sale or selling beer under the name Budweiser. In addition, the court ruled all existing in-market
Budweiser product, labels, advertisements or other promotional material in control of Budejovicky Budvar or its New
Zealand distributor must be delivered to Anheuser-Busch or destroyed. The court's decision did not affect the Czech
company's ability to use the "Budejovicky Budvar" name.
"This decision affirms our right to the Budweiser name, as many other courts have agreed, while supporting our view
that Budvar has no right to the Budweiser name," said Stephen J. Burrows, president and chief executive officer,
Anheuser-Busch International, Inc. "We're pleased with the court's decision because Anheuser-Busch is the brewer that
built the Budweiser trademark around the world and began using the Budweiser trademark in 1876, 19 years before the
Budvar brewery was established."
In addition, the court ruled that Anheuser-Busch is entitled to an inquiry on the amount of damages or profits
resulting from Budejovicky Budvar's infringement of Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser trademark. Any damage claims would be
reviewed by the New Zealand High Court. Budejovicky Budvar may be also responsible for reimbursing Anheuser-Busch for
some court costs on the appeal.
Anheuser-Busch has undisputed rights to the Budweiser brand name in most of the world and sells its beer in more than
80 countries. The New Zealand Court of Appeals' ruling is another significant victory for Anheuser-Busch. After stopping
Budvar from using Budweiser in Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Spain and most recently, Italy, Anheuser-Busch
has demonstrated once again its readiness to fight any infringement of Budweiser and Bud, the trademarks that
Anheuser-Busch has made into world-famous icons.
In New Zealand, Anheuser-Busch has sold Budweiser beer at least since the early 1980s and holds a 1984 trademark
registration for the brand. Anheuser- Busch holds a registration trademark for Bud in News Zealand, too.