Check this out. Found on internet...on topic...French imperialism on the
name Champagne.

http://www.techcentralstation.com/091503B.html



"dick" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> I tend to think that fraud is a bit strong here. What you are really
> discussing here are labeling laws and the trademarks.
>
> Trademark laws vary from country to country and I believe needs to
> registered in each country.
>
> The biggest issue with the word Champagne is that if France really wants
to
> protect that name---it needs to be registered and defended everywhere so
> that the name does not become classified as generic. Since the name is
not
> descriptive it likely would be easily defended. Examples are Kleenex
Brand
> Tissues...some refer to a tissue as Kleenex and that company defends their
> name so that it does not become generic. Another is Band-Aid brand
adhesive
> bandages....and on and on.
>
> This might explain why companies that have holdings in France and
> California...such as Mumm, Chandon, and or Roederer that they call French
> Product Champagne and the USA-Cal Sparking Wine. There are probably legal
> standing and their assets could likely be attached in France. But if an
> American producer has no holdings in France...no issue.
>
> I don't think it is a fraud but it is a lack of respect for the name
> Champagne to use this name outside the production of that said region.
But
> French customs do not have to be respected in the USA nor the USA in
France
> and that is how it is all around the world. All laws are local.
>
> Again...does anyone know of the name Burgundy being used for Pinot Noir
here
> in the USA the way the Champagne is. I really do not other than a box
wine.
>
>
>
> "Ian Hoare" > wrote in message
> news
> > Salut/Hi Dana Myers,
> >
> > le/on Sat, 25 Oct 2003 20:54:25 -0700, tu disais/you said:-
> >
> > >Consumers that give a sh*t understand the difference
> > >between "champagne" from California and Champagne.
> >
> > That's probab ly true, yes.
> >
> > > Other consumers don't matter (they don't care... they just don't
> > >know the difference and don't care anyway).
> >
> > I'm sorry, Dana, I find that a little arrogant towards the millions of
> > people who buy "champagne" in those countries which allow their local
> > sparklers to be called that, and all similar attempts to pass off local
> > products using prestigious names from elsewhere. It's not JUST dishonest
> > vis-a-vis the people in the areas whose product names are being usurped,
> but
> > worse, it's fraud against the consumer. As you say, they may well not
know
> > the difference, or that "Tokay d'Alsace" or "Tokay" from Rutherglen are
> > attempts to pass off their products (decent enough to stand on their own
> > names) as "the real thing".
> >
> > >buy much French wine. If worrying about your name
> > >is a big deal, I'm not interesting in your wine. The
> > >reasons should be obvious.
> >
> > They aren't. Not to me anyway. Passing off is passing off whether it's
> "Feta
> > cheese" or "Tokay" or "Parma ham" from France or "Champagne" from the
USA
> or
> > Australia or "Blue Mountain Coffee" from Sumatra. It cheats both the
> > producer and the consumer. And saying that because the consumer is not
yet
> > knowledgeable enough to know, s/he doesn't matter, is as arrogant and
> > dishonest as anything I've read recently. Sorry, but that's how I see
it.
> >
> > Ignorance can be cured by knowledge. An ignorant consumer (I have lots
of
> > visitors who are ignorant about wine here) can usually tell the
difference
> > when they get a chance to taste one wine against the other. As to which
> they
> > will prefer, that's another matter. But I CANNOT accept that it right
that
> > laws don't forbid producers/ entrepreneurs/importers from passsing off,
no
> > matter how long the fraud has been going on. This isn't in any sense to
be
> > taken as anti-American, because I feel JUST as strongly about French and
> > British passing off. More so in fact, as these countries take a strong
> > stance against it when it is their products whose names are being
misused.
> >
> > --
> > All the Best
> > Ian Hoare
> >
> > Sometimes oi just sits and thinks
> > Sometimes oi just sits.
>
>