beyond the vineyard useful miscellania for trademark practitioners paul w. reidl associate general...
TRANSCRIPT
BEYOND THE VINEYARDUseful Miscellania for
Trademark Practitioners
Paul W. Reidl
Associate General Counsel
E. & J. Gallo Winery
September 1999
Copyright Paul W. Reidl, 1999
FEELED SURVEY RESULTS
Before Lunch 5%
Before Cocktail Reception 10%
I’m Sleeping, Don’t Bother Me 15%
Get This Over With So I Can Go Party on My Firm’s Expense Account 75%
DISCUSSION TOPICS
LABEL APPROVALS
LABEL CONTENT
GEOGRAPHIC INDICATIONS
INTERNET SALES
LABEL APPROVALS: US 32 States Require Prior Approval
ATF Requires Prior Approval for All Beer, Spirits and Wines (over 6% Alcohol only)
Wines Under 6% are Regulated by the FDA; No Prior Approval Required
US PRACTICE TIPS
Look for “Mandatories”
Health Warning & Sulfite Statement
LABEL CONTENTS: GOVERNMENT WARNING
GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
Contains Sulfites.
FDA Nutrition Facts Statement (Under 6% Wines)
LABEL CONTENTS: US
Search ATF Data Base
Sili%
NON - US LABEL CONTENT
Generally, No Prior Approval Required
NON-US LABEL CONTENT
Language Issues
NON-US LABEL CONTENT
NON-US LABEL CONTENT
NON-US LABELS
Local “Mandatories”
RECYCLING SYMBOLS
LABEL CONTENT
What are the Trademarks on the Label?
Is the Leaf Design a Trademark?
No
Kendall-Jackson Winery Ltd. v. E. & J. Gallo Winery, 150 F.3d 1042 (9th
Cir. 1998)
WHAT IS THE TRADEMARK?
LABEL CONTENT
Immoral or Scandalous Terms
Health Claims?
LABEL CONTENTBACK LABELS -- US United States -- First Amendment --
“This wonderful California wine is lovingly vinified from hand-picked premium grapes by family farmers. Pause and linger over the essence of bell pepper and hints of blackberry jam that burst onto the palate like a brilliant summer morning.”
LABEL CONTENTEUROPEAN UNION
“This California wine is red.”
GEOGRAPHIC INDICATIONS
Government-created Special Term
Specific Goods-Place Nexus
American Viticultural Areas (AVA), Denominazione Di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG), Appellation d’Origine Controlle (AOC)
GEOGRAPHIC INDICATIONS
Examples: Sonoma County (Wine), Asti (Spumante), Roquefort (Cheese)
Semi-Generics: Chablis (Wine), Dijon (Mustard), Swiss (Cheese)
GEOGRAPHIC INDICATIONS
Registration issues
What happens when a trademark and a GI are similar?
INTA Position: Disputes between trademarks and GI’s should be resolved on a “First in Time, First in Right” basis.
IS THERE A GI?
INTERNET SALES: ISSUES
Historical Restrictions on Distribution
Tax Revenue Loss
Under-Age Drinking
