Budvar wins latest Budweiser trademark dispute, in Finland.

AP--The Czech brewery Budejovicky Budvar has claimed victory over Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. in the latest round of their ongoing global trademark dispute, which took place in Finland.

Finland's brewing association, however, said the ruling had no practical significance because foreign beers make up less than one percent of total consumption, and neither Budvar nor Budweiser are among the top imports.

On Dec. 29, Finland's high court upheld a previous court decision that Budvar can use the Budejovicky Budvar trademark in the country. The ruling also gave Budvar's trading company the right to use the name Budweiser Budvar N.C., said Petr Samec, a spokesman for the Czech brewer. Samec said the verdict is final.

Budvar director Jiri Bocek said the decision will lead to increased exports of Czech Budvar to Finland.

Anheuser-Busch International's CEO and President Stephen Burrows said that the brewer was pleased that the court recognized the brewer's trademark rights to "Budweiser" and "Bud" in Finland.

"We are disappointed the Court, in the same ruling, has allowed Budejovicky Budvar to refer to its company as Budweiser Budvar, National Enterprise in Finland," he said in a statement. Burrows said Anheuser-Busch has "Bud" and "Budweiser" trademark protection in 21 of 25 European Union nations.

Budejovicky Budvar and Anheuser-Busch have been battling over Budweiser and other trade names, such as Budvar, for a century. Currently, they are involved in some 40 lawsuits worldwide. Budejovicky Budvar was founded in 1895 in Ceske Budejovice--called Budweis by its German-speaking population. Since 2001, Budvar has been exporting lager to the U.S. market under the name Czechvar.