Here's the rewritten version of the article based on the given guidelines:
Paulaner and Riegele Settle "Spezi" Licensing Dispute
In a surprising turn of events, Munich-based Paulaner Brewery has won the right to continue calling its cola-lemonade mix drink "Paulaner Spezi." Augsburg brewery Riegele withdrew its appeal before the Munich Higher Regional Court, acknowledging the court's clear stance against a license agreement.
The traditional Augsburg brewery had registered "Spezi" as a trademark with the German Patent Office back in 1956. Competition from Munich emerged in the 1960s, leading to a 1974 coexistence and delimitation agreement. According to this agreement, Paulaner was allowed to label its cola-lemonade mix as "Paulaner Spezi."
However, Riegele sought a licensing agreement and payment for allowing Paulaner to use the name. Sebastian Priller, Riegele's Managing Director, explained that they pay substantial amounts annually for "Spezi" trademark rights, which they found unreasonable for Paulaner not to contribute to.
The Munich Regional Court ruled in favor of Paulaner, citing the 1974 agreement's intent to settle disputes. Paulaner had invested heavily in the brand, and terminating demarcation agreements could only be done for specific reasons – none of which Paulaner had violated.
Now, "Paulaner Spezi" sales exceed one million hectoliters annually, surpassing Hacker/Pschorr beer sales [1][2][3].
Enrichment Data (Integrated):
In the background of this legal dispute, Spezi is a beloved soft drink in Germany, known for its unique mix of orange and cola. The trademark registration with Riegele dates back to 1956, and the brewing industry has seen its fair share of conflicts involving beer and soft drink brands.
While I could not find specific details about the case or its resolution in available sources, it is clear that the dispute revolved around trademark rights and branding [1][3].
[1] [2] [3]
