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On 10 Nov 2003 14:26:05 GMT, (PENMART01) wrote:

>Methods cannot be protected by law unless they are patented, and therefore made
>public record (it's not possible to patent a method for food preparation). The
>only real way to protect proprietory method is to keep it secret, but that in
>no way ensures that others can't replicate the process. The name "Smithfield
>cannot be copyrighted. But placing the words "Smithfield Ham" on a cured ham
>is protectected by law, only in so much that "Only a ham cured within the
>Smithfield town limits can bear that prestigious name."

Smithfield is a *brand* name. "Genuine Smithfield Ham" is the
protected name. They can, and do label their wet-cured hams
(non-country Hams) with their company name. Specificially,
"Smithfield Premium Ham, Ready to Cook".

Although they do make a "Genuine Smithfield Ham", their wet-cured hams
are made slightly outside of Smithfield, but still bear the
"SMithfield" name on the label. They do not say "Genuine" though.

-sw