AB InBev Wins Budweiser Case in Europe

LUXEMBOURG Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (AB InBev) won a case in Europe for one of the world's most recognizable brands: Budweiser.

The EU General Court in Luxembourg on Tuesday affirmed AB InBev's trademark right on the word "Bud" for beer and other products, rejecting an appeal by Czech competitor Budejovicky Budvar NP (Budvar), Bloomberg News reported.

We will now have virtually world-wide protection for the Bud or Budweiser brands," Belgium-based AB InBev was quoted as stating.

Budvar said the decision won't impact its business activities in the EU countries, but the company will consider whether to appeal the ruling to the European Court, the report said, quoting the company's lawyer in an emailed statement. Founded in 1895, Budvar claims only beer brewed in its part of the Czech Republic can be called Budweiser, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.