“A cheese by any other name would smell as sweet”, or so The Briefing might have us believe in their latest podcast episode, “When Parmesan isn’t Parmesan – Cheese Consortium Attempts to Fight Off Counterfeit Cheese”.
The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, guardians of one of Italy’s most famed culinary treasures, find themselves embroiled at the forefront of a battle against what could be one of the world’s most deceptive criminal industries— counterfeit cheese. In their assertion, Parmigiano Reggiano, a name synonymous with Italian heritage and gastronomic excellence, is said to be subject to rampant forgery on a global scale.
Scott Hervey and Jamie Lincenberg, bringing significant legal pedigree to the debate, approach this intricate issue with the detail and nuance it warrants. Reportedly, they outline the consortium’s strategies aimed at repelling the counterfeit cheeses within the podcast.
This underreported phenomenon raises several intriguing legal questions. With numerous variables at play, from the definition of what constitutes authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, to the mechanisms and enforcement measures available for protecting Identifications of Origin on an international level, thoughtful discourse within this space has the opportunity to yield progressive insights.
Particularly relevant for lawyers operating within Intellectual Property Law, Food Safety Regulations and International Trade, this case offers an engaging exploration into the practical application of these principles. Corporations and law firms looking to bolster their market understanding or legal strategies would be well-advised to consider the insights this podcast offers.