The “Bud versus Budvar” saga continues

So Bud is not a place. Who would have thought? The Colmar Court of Appeal has ruled that the “Bud” appellation of origin, owned by the Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar, is invalid, AB-InBev reported in early November 2013.

The Court of Appeal said that “Bud” could not be protected in France as an appellation of origin because the European Commission did not protect the term following accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union in 2004. The Court also held that “Bud” was not a place name as required for protection as an appellation of origin.

AB-InBev must be pleased with this ruling because it solidifies their trademark position in France.

Earlier this year, the EU Community Trademark Office issued AB-InBev a “Bud” trademark registration, giving the company a trademark registration valid throughout the entire European Union.