AB InBev wins re-hearing for EU trademark case

Anheuser-Busch InBev rejoined Budejovicky Budvar in trademark combat recently when the multi-national conglomerate secured another EU court hearing to settle who owns the ‘Bud’ trademark in the European Union, another step in what has been a long-running spat between the pair.

The European Court of Justice has ordered a re-run of the case originally heard in the EU’s Court of First Instance – now known as the General Court – as the ECJ now considers the previous GC judgement to have been wrong in denying Anheuser-Busch InBev sole ownership of the trademark rights to ‘Bud’ in all 27 Member States of the EU. It stated that the GC had made mistakes in its original interpretation of EU trademark law.

"The decision moves Anheuser-Busch InBev one step closer to securing rights to either the Bud or Budweiser trademark throughout the entire European Union," commented a spokesperson for AB InBev.

Budejovicky Budvar had persuaded the GC to annul a previous ruling in favour of AB InBev.