Court strikes out Amstel Malta suit against NBL

Admin l Monday, June 28, 2021

 

LAGOS, Nigeria – A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory has struck out a suit against Nigerian Breweries Plc, makers of  Amstel Malta, challenging its ownership of the brand. The suit was filed in February 2019 by one Mr. Paul Allen Oche and three others against Nigerian Breweries, challenging ownership of the brand.

The petitioners had claimed the sum of N1.5 billion being damages against the Company for  alleged breach of his copyright in the work “The Amstel Factor: An Amstel Malta Guide on how to be the best you can be”.

Nigerian Breweries also filed a preliminary objection to the suit stating that Amstel Malta is one of its well-known brands in its portfolio for which it had launched several campaigns over the years and that the petitioners were laying false claim to the copyright in one of such campaigns launched in 2016.

Incorporated in 1946, Nigerian Breweries Plc has a rich portfolio of high quality brands: Star lager beer was launched in 1949, followed by Guider lager beer in 1970. Maltina, the nourishing malt drink, was introduced in 1976, followed by legend Extra Stout in 1992 and another malt drink, Amstel Malta in 1994. Heineken lager beer was re-launched into the Nigerian market in 1998. Fayrouz, the premium non­ alcoholic soft drink, was launched in 2006 while Climax herbal energy drink was launched in 2010.

Following the acquisition of Sona Systems and Life Breweries in 2011, Goldberg lager, Malta Gold malt drink and life Continental lager, were added to the brand portfolio. The Company increased its portfolio of brands in 2014 with the addition of two line extensions of the Star brand- Star lite and Star Radler.

Also in 2014, as a result of the merger with Consolidated Breweries Plc, “33” Export lager beer, Williams dark ale, Turbo King dark ale, More lager beer and a malt drink, Hi Malt, became part of the Company’s product offering. The Ace brand in the Ready-to-Drink (RtD) category was launched in 2015 while Tiger lager beer, an international premium brand was added to the portfolio of brands in 2018.