Anheuser-Busch InBev Loses Case Over ‘Bud’ Trademark
Anheuser-Busch InBev has lost a legal battle to protect its ‘Bud’ trademark for beer and certain other uses in the EU region, after an EU court ruled in favour of Czech rival Budejovicky Budvar.

The European Court of First Instance, based in Luxembourg, ruled that the EU trademark office was wrong to give Anheuser-Busch rights to use the Bud brand on beer and other alcoholic beverages across the EU, despite the objections of Budvar. The new ruling means the right to use the ‘Bud’ brand will be determined in individual countries.

The cases are the latest in a battle that is over a century old, and which concerns the rights covering use of the Bud brand for the companies’ beer. Budvar says it owns the rights because its beer comes from Ceske Budejovice, which is called Budweis in German. The Czech company markets its brew as Budvar in some places with the word Budweiser in smaller print and in others it sells beer as Bud, adding “original Czech” above the logo.

Anheuser-Busch InBev claimed the decision “has no effect on Anheuser-Busch InBev’s already extensive Bud rights” in the EU, adding it will “vigorously protect” its rights. The group also has trademark protection for Budweiser or Bud in 23 of the 27 EU countries.