EU Rejects Swiss Emmentaler Trademark Protection

• Emmentaler Switzerland has lodged an appeal with the Court of Justice of the European Union against the European Commission's refusal to protect the trademark.
• The European Commission argues the term 'Emmentaler' is generic and historically linked to a wider geographical area than just Switzerland.
• The 1951 Stresa Convention recognized the designation 'Emmentaler' as reserved exclusively for Swiss cheeses.
• Austria claims to have produced and marketed Emmentaler since at least 1936.
• Swiss Emmentaler AOP production is strictly regulated to a specific geographical area extending from the Emme valley to Lake Constance.

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