Gruyere becomes a common name in the United States

In March 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit finally ruled that "gruyere" is a generic term that can identify and label cheeses originating from regions outside of Switzerland and France's Gruyère region.

The court's decision ends a dispute with the European Dairy Federation, which filed an application to register "Gruyère" as a certification mark in the United States based on a claim to have the right to identify cheeses from specific geographical regions in Switzerland and France. The ruling marks a victory for American cheese producers and dairy groups in their fight to protect generic names.

The U.S. model for GI protection continues to emphasize the importance of preserving generic terms for the benefit of consumers and producers. As demonstrated in the recently decided Gruyère cheese case, the U.S. model relies on due process and transparency to ensure that all stakeholders have a platform to present evidence to support their claims.