Budweiser prevents Czech company using name in NZ

American brewing giant Budweiser says it has won a Court of Appeal case to prevent a Czech beer company from using its name in New Zealand.

The Czech beer was introduced to the New Zealand market in 1996 as Budejovicky Budvar. It is also sold as Budweiser Budvar.

Anheuser-Busch, which brews Budweiser, this year asked the Court of Appeal to overturn a High Court decision last year by Justice Doogue that said there was no evidence the Czech beer would be confused with American Budweiser.

It claimed that use of the words by the Czech brewery was an infringement of the Trademarks Act.

Anheuser-Busch president Stephen Burrows said today the court had ordered Budejovicky Budvar to stop importing, advertising, offering for sale or selling beer under the name Budweiser.

It also ruled all existing in-market Budweiser product, labels, advertisements or other promotional material in control of Budejovicky Budvar or its New Zealand distributor 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, he said.

Budejovicky Budvar is brewed in the small town of Ceske Budejovice.

The name Budweiser comes from Budweis, the German name for the town and the Czech brewery therefore claims historical rights to use the name.

- NZPA