In April, after a protracted, years-long battle to try to trademark the generic term “asiago”, and steady opposition efforts by CCFN, Italy’s asiago consortium (Consorzio Tutela Formaggio Asiago) abandoned its application for a U.S. trademark for exclusive use of the term “asiago” in the United States.
After the consorzio filed its current application in 2012, CCFN met with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) and presented complete information illustrating how widely the term is used. After this meeting, the PTO rightfully refused the application on the grounds that “asiago” is a generic.
Over the past few years, Italy continued the fight, coming back with appeals to try to get that decision overturned. At the same time, Italy pursued an effort to cancel a longstanding trademark owned by Schuman Cheese – a CCFN member based in New Jersey – for the term “Asiago Cello” (“Cello” is Schuman’s flagship brand).
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Consortium for Common Food Names
