Breweries fight over new bottle
Dec 22, 2009
THE High Court in Jinja has issued an interim order restraining Uganda Breweries Limited from using the long neck 500ml beer bottles.
By Vision Reporter
THE High Court in Jinja has issued an interim order restraining Uganda Breweries Limited from using the long neck 500ml beer bottles.
The order was issued on Thursday December 17 by Muse Musimbi, the assistant registrar of the court.
The order comes amidst a protracted legal battle between the country’s two main breweries, Nile Breweries based in Jinja and Uganda Breweries at Luzira in Kampala.
Nile Breweries is claiming exclusive rights to the bottle in which it sells its beer brands, Nile Special, Club Pilsner and Castle Milk.
The bottle, which was introduced last year, became popular among the urbanites for its easy grip.
Nile Breweries sought an injunction blocking Uganda Breweries and its parent company, East African Breweries, from using the bottles to pack their President Special Edition Lager and President Extra Lager beer brands.
Uganda Breweries began packaging the two beer brands at the beginning of the year in honour of US President Barack Obama following his inauguration.
Before filing the application, Nile Breweries issued a public statement stressing that the long neck beer bottle is registered as its trademark and also its industrial design with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation.
Nile Breweries also wrote to Uganda Breweries in October saying that they were in breach of their trademark by using the bottle.
However, Uganda Breweries argues that the generic long neck bottle cannot be the subject of any exclusive rights as claimed by Nile Breweries.
Uganda Breweries produces Bell Lager, Guiness, Pilsner Ice, Pilsner and Pilsner Extra.
THE High Court in Jinja has issued an interim order restraining Uganda Breweries Limited from using the long neck 500ml beer bottles.
The order was issued on Thursday December 17 by Muse Musimbi, the assistant registrar of the court.
The order comes amidst a protracted legal battle between the country’s two main breweries, Nile Breweries based in Jinja and Uganda Breweries at Luzira in Kampala.
Nile Breweries is claiming exclusive rights to the bottle in which it sells its beer brands, Nile Special, Club Pilsner and Castle Milk.
The bottle, which was introduced last year, became popular among the urbanites for its easy grip.
Nile Breweries sought an injunction blocking Uganda Breweries and its parent company, East African Breweries, from using the bottles to pack their President Special Edition Lager and President Extra Lager beer brands.
Uganda Breweries began packaging the two beer brands at the beginning of the year in honour of US President Barack Obama following his inauguration.
Before filing the application, Nile Breweries issued a public statement stressing that the long neck beer bottle is registered as its trademark and also its industrial design with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation.
Nile Breweries also wrote to Uganda Breweries in October saying that they were in breach of their trademark by using the bottle.
However, Uganda Breweries argues that the generic long neck bottle cannot be the subject of any exclusive rights as claimed by Nile Breweries.
Uganda Breweries produces Bell Lager, Guiness, Pilsner Ice, Pilsner and Pilsner Extra.