15 Jul 2011

Disappointment over trademark ruling for beer brand

11:05 am on 15 July 2011

The Society of Beer Advocates is disappointed that DB Breweries has successfully defended its right to own the trademark Radler.

The Intellectual Property Office decided on Thursday that only DB Breweries can call its beer Radler, rejecting an application from the society to revoke the trademark.

The SOBA says Radler is a style of beer like stout or pilsner and should not be trademarked.

But the trademark was confirmed on the basis that Radler was not known as a descriptive term in New Zealand when the application was granted in 2003.

The society has not decided if it will appeal.