But Is Spuds’ Passport Current?

It all began in the Middle Ages, when a Bohemian brewery began selling a beer it called Budweiser. In 1895, the Budweiser/Budvar brewery was founded in Prague. An American firm called Anheuser-Busch borrowed the name in 1911, and an international trademark battle was on.

Now the Czech Republic has agreed to negotiate a deal with Anheuser-Busch Cos. The St. Louis-based firm wants to buy a stake in the Czech concern and join it in a global marketing partnership.

The Czechs had sniffed at the idea before. But a Czech official explained the change in attitude thus: “We discovered that it’s better to try to make some agreement than to fight.” Now that’s using their heads.