A decision by a Swedish court has handed both victory and defeat
to the breweries fighting over the rights to the Budweiser name,
with Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar saying it will appeal.
US rival Anheuser-Busch was seeking to prevent the Czech company
from using the names Budweiser, Budweis, Budvar and Budbräu.
In a mixed ruling two weeks ago, the District Court in Stockholm
stopped Budejovicky from using the names Budweiser or Budweis for
beer in Sweden – but said the Czech company could continue to use
the names Budvar and Budbräu.
The court also ordered Budejovicky to pay Anheuser-Busch almost
$100,000 in damages and legal fees.
Budejovicky's director Jir¡í Boc¡ek said: "Part of the ruling,
which was in our favour, directly supports our business because in
Sweden we...