The U.K. Supreme Court has ruled against Anheuser-Busch InBev’s request to stop Czech brewery Budvar from selling beer under the Budweiser name. Both brewing companies will continue to use the name in the UK.
While Anheuser-Busch was first to seek to trademark the Budweiser name in Britain, the Czech company entered the British market one year ahead of the then-St. Louis-based brewer, according to Reuters.
Tuesday’s ruling comes more than two years after a European Union ruling that quashed AB-InBev’s attempt to register the Budweiser name as its trademark.
According to Budvar, there there are about 40 related trademark dispute cases pending in different jurisdictions and some 70 procedural issues up for consideration around the world.
AB InBev said it was disappointed by the UK Supreme Court ruling but that it did not affect its Budweiser trademark in the country. It said Budweiser sales in the UK rose 40% between 2009 and 2011.
“This attempt to change the final decision of the court proves the long-term strong interest by (AB InBev) to gain exclusive rights for the Budweiser brand at any cost,” Budvar chief executive Jiri Bocek said in a statement.