DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Lifestyle
German news & articles
Munich's Hofbräuhaus takes Dresden's Hofbrauhaus to court
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Munich's Hofbräuhaus takes Dresden's Hofbrauhaus to court

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Cunning thieves steal gin ball from Lake ConstanceCunning thieves steal gin ball from Lake Constance
Bavarian animal park renames Putin the wild boar following Ukraine warBavarian animal park renames Putin the wild boar following Ukraine war
"Techno is music", rules German court "Techno is music", rules German court 
TU Munich once again named as Germany’s best universityTU Munich once again named as Germany’s best university
8 best rooftop bars in Berlin8 best rooftop bars in Berlin
Best campsites in GermanyBest campsites in Germany
Top 8 most picturesque towns and villages in GermanyTop 8 most picturesque towns and villages in Germany
Germans continue to smoke and drink too much, addiction report findsGermans continue to smoke and drink too much, addiction report finds
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usImpressumSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Feb 26, 2022
Emily Proctor
Former Editor at IamExpat Media.Read more

Munich's Hofbräuhaus is involved in a legal battle with the Dresden-based brand Hofbrauhaus, expressing concerns that customers could get confused between the two. The legal battle has been going on for quite some time already, but the court will finally make a ruling in the coming weeks. 

Legal battle between Munich and Dresden’s businesses is heating up

The Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in Munich has been attempting to take legal action against the Dresden brand for a decade already, with the reason being that they are concerned about the similarity of the names of the two businesses - which both operate beer halls and produce German beer. 

“The confusion of the name is one hundred percent a risk, especially in the international arena. There we are called Hofbrauhaus,” explained Hofbräu spokesperson Stefan Hempl. The concern is indeed legitimate, since in many languages there is no equivalent of the German umlaut for the sound “äu”, and thus many people who have never had a German lesson end up pronouncing “Hofbräuhaus” and “Hofbrauhaus” the same way. 

Others using the name pay the Hofbräuhaus in Munich

The Munich Hofbräuhaus, founded by Duke Wilhelm V, has been around since 1589, and filed for its original patent in 1879. While there are other operations using the Hofbräuhaus name across the world in places such as China and Brazil, these firms pay the Hofbräuhaus in Munich directly, for the privilege of being allowed to use the name. 

The Munich Hofbräuhaus applied already to have the Dresden Hofbrauhaus’s trademark removed, but this was declined by the court. Since Hofbräuhaus's initial objection to the Hofbrauhaus's trademark application was unsuccessful, the Munich-based company is now demanding that the Dresden trademark be removed by means of a lawsuit. "We have to defend our brand," maintained Hempl. 

By Emily Proctor