ANST - Re:vinting.

[Robert Knaus]

SCOTT A WAGGONER wrote:
> 
> On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 12:29:38 -0500 (CDT) "Pug Bainter" <pug at pug.net>
> writes:
> >Alan J. Boertjens said something that sounded like:
> >> I thought that "champagne" was strictly used for wine that comes
> >> from the geographical area of Champagne.  So if one makes a
> >> sparkling wine and they didn't make it IN Champagne, then it
> >> technically isn't "champagne".
> >
> >Although I think this is the original definition, due to the number of
> >California wineries it's been expanded to include those made with the
> >right strain of grape and yeast.
> >
> 
> >Phelim "Pug" Gervase
> 
> It is a similar case to calling all facial tissue "Kleenex" though that
> is abrand name for one specific item. Same goes for Ansprin. Champagne is
> originally named for the area in France where is was produced, but as
> most of us Americans have done, we call anything similar to it champagne
> as well.
> 
> Good example is here in Ansteorra. "Get me a Coke." "what kind? we got
> mr.pibb, pepsi, orange, etc"
> 
> Scott Waggoner
> Mayne de la Croix --- The original MiB
> Gate's Edge Canton, Barony of  Stargate,  Ansteorra
> 

Only a few problems with this.... Kleenex was originally a trademarked
name, but it was lost precisely because of this.  They did not take
"appropriate and reasonable actions" to protect the usage of the name -
hence it has moved out of the protected category and into common
parlayance.  As for "Coke" - Coca Cola (and Pepsi) spend *significant*
amounts of money testing places to verify that when someone orders
"Coke" (or "Pepsi") that is what they get.  If they in fact receive
something else they *will* prosecute (or at least threaten to do so). 
This is required of them in order to protect their hard earned
trademark.  (Same applies to service marks, etc.).  I really don't
believe that they would spend millions on this type of thing if it were
not important to them and required to protect their name (legally).

The same sort of situation exists with Champagne.  Although as home
brewers the likelihood of this sort of problem cropping up is almost
nil, this is the reason for the distinction of things as "sparkling
wine" instead of "champagne".

Barq Al-yesari
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