Radler belongs to DB and no one else

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Thu, 14 Jul 2011 7:00p.m.

So appalled were beer appreciators by the trademark, they appealed against the IPONZ decision

So appalled were beer appreciators by the trademark, they appealed against the IPONZ decision

The Intellectual Property Office (IPONZ) has made a remarkable decision to allow DB to keep their trademark on the term Radler, a shandy-like beverage.

They are very common in Germany; thirteen different brands made by thirteen different companies.

Back in New Zealand, DB persuaded IPONZ to let them trademark it for their use alone.

A clear and outrageous breach of trademark would probably have someone imprisoned for many years.

So appalled were the society of beer appreciators by the trademark, they appealed against the IPONZ decision, to IPONZ.

Today IPONZ upheld their own decision, so trademark stays.

Neither DB or IPONZ would join Campbell Live.

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Comments

17 Jul 2011 07:04p.m.

al wrote:

The best we can hope for is the end of DB NZ companies have a bad idea that they are the original or the best and at best they can copy.

17 Jul 2011 12:28p.m.

nick a wrote:

So its okay for nz companies to rip off german ideas and NZ tv programmes (close up) to rip off american ideas but the french do a magazine sover with a guy with a moko and the sky is falling. The IPONZ needs to relise its not what is right but who is the wealthiest and most powerfull...and that would be DB. @phil yeah the unity of NZers to stand up against what is morally wrong..yeah like that happens everyday in this country!

16 Jul 2011 11:40p.m.

phil wrote:

Easy to fix. Let's all stay away from DB until the loss of $ makes them change their minds. Consumer power needs to put into action.

16 Jul 2011 10:06a.m.

peter wrote:

@ Allen - well it is a problem when you steal the idea in the first place. If they invented a new style called radler then it would be fair enough but they are just uncreative and lazy corporates pretending to be brewers and sponging off those who actually have a clue.

15 Jul 2011 05:54p.m.

Graham Weir wrote:

The actions of DB are simply ridiculous. What next? Will DB now try to say that the colour of the bottle is theirs alone? i am not a regular beer drinker, but I will not be buying their product in future - not that they will care much about one lost customer.

15 Jul 2011 03:21p.m.

Alien wrote:

they've had the rights since 2003, no one has complained until now. Really isn't anything special when you look globally at the sort of words trademarked.

15 Jul 2011 01:17p.m.

mike smith wrote:

Most worrying is that IPONZ would support such a claim and on such terribly weak grounds. It calls into question their credibility.

15 Jul 2011 11:27a.m.

peter wrote:

What an arrogant pack of idea stealing, copy cat, imagination lacking losers DB are. I'm not going to drink another drop of any of their brands because I cannot tolerate this intellectual theft - even those who had the idea first can't sell their beer in NZ. DB are thieves by any other name.

15 Jul 2011 11:03a.m.

Paul wrote:

Good on the West Coast Boutique Brewery for coming out with a 'Reldar' Beer. Lets also see 'Radlar' and/or 'Redlar' Beer labels as well, to stick it up DB and their arrogant stupidity.

14 Jul 2011 08:20p.m.

John McKirdy wrote:

Looks like I've drunk my last Montieths radler until DB give up this rediculous claim. What scumbags, expel DB management to the US where such behaviour belongs