We know how careful champagne producers are about the use of their precious appellation of origin throughout the world.
Recently, they obtained a legal ban on a Swiss village called Champagne from using its name to promote its wines.
This time, they found it stronger than them, in Spain.
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The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has, provisionally, ruled in favor of insolent Iberian restaurateurs to use the name “champanillo” to designate a type of establishment widespread in Catalonia, tapas bars.
Initially, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) refused to register this term as a trademark for restaurants.
This did not prevent the Interprofessional Committee for Champagne wines from being dismissed at first instance.
Seizure on appeal, a Barcelona court questioned the CJEU.
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And, surprise, the lawyer general of the court of Luxembourg answered, Thursday, in the direction of the Spanish bistrotiers.
According to him, EU law
"protects products with an appellation of origin against any practice of commercial free-riding, whether it relates to goods or services".
However, adds the lawyer,
"in the present case, the suffix 'illo' distinguishes, visually and phonetically, the term 'champanillo' from other compared terms".
Its opinion does not commit the final decision of the European Court, which will only be rendered in several weeks.
But it is a hard blow for the Champenois.