Producer Leffe: Brewer Leff must change name | Financial

Philippe Le Sauw of the Breton brewery named the brewery after the river that flows in his native village. He registered the brand name on October 13 with the French National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI). Two months later, AB InBev’s lawyers wrote to him to change the name.

Confusion

Leff, which only brews about 1500 bottles a year, refuses to answer that question. AB InBev prefers not to start legal proceedings, but also wants to protect the Leffe brand name because it is one of the company’s major international beer brands. In a statement Wednesday, AB InBev also regrets that there is practically no difference when pronouncing “Leff” or “Leffe.” According to the company, this creates confusion among consumers.

AB InBev hopes that a solution can be found and is looking at an evaluation by INPI, which will have to comment on the naming. That is expected to happen early next year.

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