The Munich-based brewery Paulaner sells its cola-mix drink called Spezi using a characteristic product presentation. Paulaner's own design, known as the “five-color wave”, which is shown below, is protected under trademark law in numerous countries.

Trademark-protected “five-color wave” of the Paulaner brewery (cf. e.g. EU trademark 018282231)

Based on the trademark rights registered in favor of the Paulaner brewery, Munich Regional Court I (judgment of March 25, 2025, file no. 33 O 14937/23) has now ruled against the Saarland-based Karlsberg brewery, which for its part also sells a cola-mix drink under the name “Brauerlimo” and uses the product presentation shown below in comparison to the Paulaner “Spezi”:

Comparison of the product presentations of the cola mix drinks “Spezi” and “Brauerlimo”

According to the Munich Regional Court, there is a likelihood of confusion between the product presentation used by the Karlsberg brewery and the protected trademark of the Paulaner brewery. The judgment is not yet final.

Paulaner Brauerei is also involved in a further legal dispute against the company Berentzen and its product presentation of the cola mix drink “Mio-Mio Cola Orange”, which will be heard by Munich Regional Court I on July 8, 2025.