Budvar wins latest name row

CZECH brewer Budweiser Budvar has won the latest court battle over the right to use the ‘Budweiser’ name in the UK.

The Court of Appeal ruled against the latest attempt by Anheuser-Busch, which makes US beer Budweiser, to prevent the Czech brewer using the name. Both companies were given permission by the Court of Appeal to simultaneously register the ‘Budweiser’ trade mark in 2000 but, in 2005, Anheuser-Busch took legal action, claiming its application to register the mark in the UK in 1976 predated Budvar’s application in 1989.