Miller sues Bud Light

desdemona · May 29, 2004

Sudsy brouhaha to court: Miller sues Bud Light

Friday, May 28, 2004 Posted: 10:22 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNfn) -- A brewery brouhaha has shifted from the ad room to the courtroom.

Miller Brewing Company filed a lawsuit in Milwaukee District Court Friday against Anheuser-Busch, claiming the rival beer-maker defaced its products and "engaged in false or misleading advertising activities."

Miller spokesman Mike Hennick claimed that Bud Light stickers were placed on packages of Miller Lite. In a meeting held Thursday with a Milwaukee federal judge and the two companies, Hennick said that Busch had agreed to investigate and immediately stop any defacing of Miller's products -- if its company employees are actually behind the alleged activity.

Miller also accused the St.Louis-based brewery of publishing misleading advertisements that claimed Miller is based in South Africa. One ad that appeared in the May 20 edition of USA Today showed a bottle of Miller Lite with the phrase: "Miller Lite - Queen of Carbs, South African owned," next to it. Hennick said the ad was misleading because SAB Miller is based in London, and South African-based Miller Brewing is only a subsidiary of the company.

Miller has launched an aggressive ad campaign in recent months, touting its product as the "President of Beers." One ad features a mock presidential debate with a top Miller official going up against a Clydesdale, the horse made famous by Budweiser.

Anheuser-Busch has fought back by reverting to a classic: The lizards in the swamp. In one ad, one of the lizards notes Miller's South African roots, making it ineligible for the presidency.

read the article here:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/05/28/beer.lawsuit/index.html