Wine & Grapes and Trade Marks

South Africa: Breaking news is that we now have a High Court decision that considers whether identical trade marks (or just about) can co-exist on wine and grapes. Not one of 50 odd 000 European decisions have considered the point and, just like the first heart transplant, it emanates from the Cape. Jeremy Speres is busy compiling the summary for you so this post is a heads up to purchase a bottle of your favourite vino and then imagine yourself as the winemaker whose neighbour just started selling grapes under the same name. Infringement or bypass - what's your cure? Watch this space.