Salut/Hi Dana Myers,

le/on Mon, 27 Oct 2003 18:34:03 -0800, tu disais/you said:-

>If "Champagne" wasn't a place but was a Gallo brand, we wouldn't
>be having this exchange.

But it was _used_ by Gallo just because it WAS a place where they make an
eponymous wine. That's the point for me.

Gallo (and anyone else who uses famous place names generically) knew
perfectly well what they were doing when they started, Dana. They shouldn't
bellyache now, it seems to me. And of course exactly the same argument could
_and should_ IMO be true for Parma or Bayonne Hams, Parmigiani Reggiano,
Cheddar (now THAT would truly put the cat among the pigeons), Roquefort
cheeses, Basmati and Carnaroli rices (which are more than simply varieties
of rice IMO). This isn't about protectionism (not a thing I like at all) but
about giving credit where it's due and especially not deceiving the
consumer. And please don't believe that I've got it in for the States over
this. I believe that actually France would suffer more, if prestigious named
products were properly protected.
--
All the Best
Ian Hoare

Sometimes oi just sits and thinks
Sometimes oi just sits.