Attention monument in danger.
The federal court of Virginia, in the United States, ruled that Gruyère did not need to be made in the eponymous region.
The reason: this product has become so popular that its name is now a generic word for any cheese.
If this can make you smile, it is a real concern for the historical manufacturers, because from now on any company is free to sell its product under this name.
The key is an obvious shortfall.
“
We learned of the decision through the press.
We will decide whether or not to appeal after two meetings: one today and the other on Friday
, ”comments Nathalie Coronel, leader of the interprofessional union of Gruyère.
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This is the latest twist in a long legal battle.
Last month Judge TS Ellis III held that "
although the term Gruyere may have once been understood to be indicative of a cheese-producing area, the factual record amply shows that the term Gruyere has over time generic for people buying cheese in the United States
.
Under US law, a trademark cannot be given a generic term, explains the
New York Times
.
Important economic issues
The conflict over the right to use, or not, the term Gruyère (IPG), opposes for nearly nine years the interprofession of Gruyère with the organization US Dairy Export Council, an American association of export of dairy products.
The battle began in 2013 when the IPG had the brand certified in the country of Uncle Sam. And the situation could continue for a long time.
According to the Swiss newspaper RTS, the interprofession has decided to appeal.
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If the question seems to affect only a handful of producers, the question of the solidity of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) arises in the background.
“
This calls into question the very principle of AOP.
We deny the existence of European specifications
,” laments Nathalie Coronel.
This indicator is supposed to protect the know-how of a region by allowing it to have a commercial advantage over other similar products.
Considerable economic stakes are linked to it.
If some countries believe they can ignore it, this risks calling into question the “business model” of many producers.
