Budvar Secures Budweiser Trademark In Britain

PRAGUE (AP) -- State-owned Czech brewery Budejovicky Budvar NP says a British court has rejected for good Anheuser-Busch's request to have Budvar's Budweiser trademark declared invalid in the country, the latest ruling in a long legal battle over the brand name.

Budvar says Britain's Supreme Court rejected on Jan. 8 a request by Anheuser-Busch to overturn a ruling by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal had said Budvar should keep the right to the name.

The ruling means that unlike other markets, Anheuser-Busch and Budvar can both continue to use the Budweiser trademark in Britain. Both brewers were granted the right to use it in 2000.

Budvar said Tuesday that Anheuser-Busch, which is owned by Belgium's AB Inbev, cannot appeal the latest verdict.