When I first arrived at Praha (Prague), the bartender at U Suvy (The Owl) handed me a "Bud." I told her that I didn't want a water-down piss-ass American import. She told me it was domestic. And WOW, the difference between to the Buds are worlds apart. This Czech Bud is actually good.
This century-old dispute revolves around the pivotal trademark issue, "Who owns the name 'Budweiser'"? Is it the American, Adolphus Busch, who in 1876 called his King of Beers "Budweiser" because it had a slightly Germanic sound that would appeal to both Americans and German immigrants? Or the Czech town of Budějovice, also known in German as Budweis, that began brewing its liquid bread since the 12th century. The problem, however, is that Budějovický Budvar was not incorporated until sometime after Anheuser-Busch registered its trademarks in the United States. Since then, the battle for brand recognition has left the beer-loving world divided between Bud and Budvar. Neither brewery has managed to win exclusive rights to the use of the commercial name.
State ownership has thrawted attempts to take over Budějovický. Much of the battles have moved from the local tavern to the courtroom.
For now however, an uneasy détente exists as the unresolved trade mark disputes in various jurisdictions rumble on. There even seems to be some disagreement over who has won what. While Budvar claims South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Latvia, Australia, and Denmark; Anheuser-Busch cites legal victories in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Nigeria, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Tajikistan. As with consumers, there remains room for confusion. Fittingly, perhaps, since confusion in the mind of the consumer is the acid test when resolving trademark cases.
You can find Budějovický Budvar labeled as Czechvar.
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