Czech Republic & Hungary: Budvar doesn�t give up on Budweiser trademark for Hungary

Czech brewery Budejovicky Budvar said it remained the exclusive owner of the Budweiser and Budweiser Budvar trademarks in Hungary even after a Budapest court ruled US giant Anheuser-Busch could sell its Budweiser beer in the country, The Prague Daily Monitor posted May 25.

Budejovicky Budvar spokesman Petr Samec told CTK the US brewery could sell its beer only under its own trademark, "Bud".

"In its decisions, the municipal court of appeals in Budapest gradually confirmed Budejovicky Budvar's right to the protection of the "Budejovicke pivo" and "Ceskobudejovicke pivo" geographical indications, including translations," he added.

The phrases mean "beer from Ceske Budejovice" (the town where Budvar is produced). In German, they would read "Budweiser Bier".

Budvar also said the court verdict would not hamper its business activities in Hungary.

Hungary is one of the ten most important export markets for Budvar which raised sales to Hungary by 3 percent year-on-year in 2005.

Anheuser-Busch and Budvar have been fighting for the Budweiser trademark and other trademarks since 1906. They are embroiled in about 40 trademark disputes worldwide.