Anheuser-Busch Wants to Trademark Area Codes for Regional Brews
By: Marissa Brassfield
Published: July 11, 2011

Anheuser-Busch InBev wants to trademark area codes, perhaps to include in the branding of regional brews. The move plays on consumers' desires to drink and eat locally, and is already in practice with 312 Urban Wheat Ale by Goose Island Chicago, which is pictured above.
Anheuser-Busch InBev filed over a dozen trademark applications for area codes. They include the prefixes for San Diego (619), San Francisco (415), Denver (303), Houston (713), Washington, D.C. (202), Miami (305) and Las Vegas (702). What do you think Anheuser-Busch will do if these trademark applications are approved?