Cola and orangeade as a mixture has many names. The mixed drink is sold as “Spezi” by two breweries. The two Bavarian beverage manufacturers are now fighting over the naming rights. It’s about ten million euros.
Can the large Paulaner brewery continue to sell a cola lemonade mix as “Spezi”? This question is being debated before the District Court of Munich I. The medium-sized Augsburg Riegele brewery sees itself as the inventor of the mixed drink and wants license fees for using the well-known name. Paulaner sees no legal basis for this. After the start, the parties now want to discuss an agreement. The amount in dispute is ten million euros. A verdict could be announced on August 30. “It is undisputed that Riegele invented the Spezi,” said Sebastian Priller-Riegele, who runs the brewery with his father.
In the mid-1950s, the people of Augsburg registered the “Spezi” trademark and coined the slogan: “A Spezi has to be there”, alluding to the meaning “good friend” widespread in southern Germany. In 1977, Riegele formed an association to expand production with the help of other licensed breweries. The core of the current dispute is an agreement from 1974 between Riegele and the then Paulaner Salvator Thomas-Bräu-AG, which both parties evaluate differently. Riegele speaks of a license agreement that has been terminated, combined with an offer for a new contract.
With sales of 900,000 hectoliters per year, up to five million euros per year could be due at Paulaner, the court calculated. In Paulaner’s view, however, a license is not necessary at all. It was only agreed in 1974 to differentiate between the two Spezi drinks and to exist side by side. According to the Munich brewery, there was no talk of a license agreement. In addition, Spezi has now become a generic term for this type of cola-soda mix.
