A-B InBev settles BMP dispute

Transaction leaves untouched Budejovicky Budvar dispute

Acquires all of Czech brewer's Budweiser trademarks

The worldwide three-way fight over ownership of Budweiser brand intellectual property rights is now down to two combatants.

It was revealed late last week that Anheuser-Busch InBev has settled its dispute with Czech brewer BMP, Budejovicky Mestansky Pivovar (Town Brewery), acquiring all rights to BMP’s Budweiser trademarks.

BMP’s other assets had been previously spun off into a separate company. Pivovar Samson will continue to operate the brewery in Ceske Budejovicky and retain ownership of all other beer brands, primarily Samson.

No financial details were disclosed. It’s not known how many countries are affected by the agreement. ABI refused to comment on its intentions regarding BMP’s Budweiser going forward, as to whether production of the beer brand will continue, and if so in which markets, or if it will cease altogether.

As it stands now, ABI does not sell, nor does it brew, Budweiser in the Czech Republic. (An ABI spokesperson notes that the multinational could sell Budweiser but that it would have to be marketed under a different trademark.)

BMP’s cross-town rival, and ABI’s main opponent in the global Budweiser trademark disputes, Budejovicky Budvar, was unfazed by ABI’s acquisition. General director Jiri Bocek said that his company was analysing the strategic, legal, trade and economic impact of the ABI-BMP agreement.

Bocek commented, “We can already say, however, that the change in ownership of BMP does not change anything regarding the solid and stable situation of our intellectual property, whether it is our protected brands, geographic origin or our trade name. The change does not affect even our trading activities.”

It is unclear what, if any, future relationship will exist between ABI and Samson Pivovar. Michal Donath, a spokesman for the Czech brewery, claimed that ABI will partner with Samson to sell its beer brands internationally and that it will eventually produce beer locally. ABI refused to comment on any future plans regarding Pivovar Samson.

With additional reporting by Katka Krosnar in Prague.