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In response to a media statement issued last week by DB Breweries, New Zealand’s Society of Beer Advocates Inc (SOBA) welcomes DB’s decision to voluntarily cancel the registration of its New Zealand trademark of the term SAISON, which it has held since 2002.
SAISON is a recognised beer style brewed around the world and SOBA is delighted that DB Breweries’ action means any brewers or importers wishing to sell SAISON-style beers within New Zealand will now be free to do so without the threat of legal action from DB.
However, SOBA notes with regret that DB Breweries intends to continue to defend its trademark of the term RADLER, another well known beer style.
In response, SOBA re-states its assertion that no brewery should be allowed to ‘own’ sole rights to the use of beer style names. SOBA believes that any such ownership is anti-competitive and detrimental to the education of and choice of beers available to the New Zealand consumer.
DB’s trademarking of beer style names came to light at then end of 2008 when the company forced the Dunedin-based organic microbrewery, Green Man, to re-label its entire production run of its RADLER style beer, or face costly legal action. Subsequent investigation revealed that DB had also trademarked SAISON.
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