Chapter I: Designations of origin

The court hearing an action brought pursuant to Article L. 431-6 may hear an action for a prohibition on the use on products other than those benefiting from the designation of origin, or on the packaging containing them and the labels, business papers and invoices referring to them, of any indication likely to cause confusion as to the origin of the products. This action is open even if the geographical…

The action is brought before the judicial court of the place of origin of the product whose designation is contested. The claim is exempted from the preliminary conciliation and investigated and judged according to the fixed day procedure. Within a week of the writ of summons, the claimant shall cause to be published in a newspaper carrying legal notices in the district in which he is domiciled, as well as…

Within a week of notification of the notice of appeal, the appellant or appellants shall make the insertions provided for in Article R. 431-2.

The Cour de cassation, on an appeal, has jurisdiction to assess whether the usages invoked for the use of an appellation of origin possess all the legal characteristics required by this section.

Any person, trade union or association meeting the conditions of duration and interest set out in Article L. 431-6 may intervene in the proceedings.