Outrage over beer label

A Blenheim man is leading the charge against a brewery which has trademarked what he considers a generic term.

Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA) president Geoff Griggs said the society intended to challenge DB Breweries over the trademarking of recognised beer style names after the brewery forced a smaller brewer to stop using the name Radler in relation its radler-style beer.

Dunedin's Green Man Brewery has now re-labelled its beers Cyclist, which is the translation of the German radler. The brewery has also had to sign legal agreements which prevent it being involved in any legal challenge.

Mr Griggs said trademarking radler was similar to trademarking mochachino.

"It's pretty ludicrous, really."

He said radler was a style of beer commonly known in Germany. He said trademarking the style meant New Zealand beer producers could not make radler and no-one could import a beer with that name unless it was re-labelled.

James and Wells Intellectual Property has offered SOBA its intellectual property litigation group services on a pro-bono basis.

Partner Ceri Wells said the company did not like to see intellectual property laws abused and supported innovative and entrepreneurial businesses in New Zealand.

Mr Griggs said SOBA was a small organisation which could not have afforded to take the necessary action.

- The Marlborough Express