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Comité Champagne under attack for its "vindictive" legal dispute against Champagne Jayne

Guy Woodward, Harpers columnist and former Decanter editor, has attacked Comité Champagne today for its on-going legal battle against freelance broadcaster and educator, Jayne Powell, over the use of her "Champagne Jayne" monicker.

Champagne Jayne, aka Jayne Powell is in legal dispute with the Comite ChampagneSource: Herald Sun

The trademark dispute finally came to court in Melbourne, Australia at the end of last year and is currently on hold before the two sides are brought together for mediation discussions to hopefully resolve the issue in March.

The Comité Interprofessionnel du Cin de Champagne (CIVC) in Australia has taken legal action against Powell for what it believes is potentially damaging behaviour towards the Champagne trademark as she also uses sparkling wines in her educational tastings and broadcasts.

In Australian court documents the Comité Champagne has said:  "The conduct of [Ms Powell] lessens the distinctiveness of and the goodwill in the name of Champagne in Australia … and therefore damages the goodwill of the Champagne sector."

Woodward, however, in today's column on Harpers.co.uk goes on the attack against what he describes as a "zealous" Comité Champagne. He writes: "By taking Jayne Powell to court for trademark infringement, the Comité Champagne has revealed a nasty, vindictive side."

He adds: "Astonishingly the Comité Champagne had claimed that Powell's actions 'damage the reputation and goodwill that the name Champagne has for some members of the public'. It should be obvious by now that the only one 'damaging' Champagne's reputation here is the Comité Champagne itself. As for goodwill, how much goodwill has Powell engendered for the region over her decade's work? And consider the upshot if the Comité Champagne is successful. A staunch supporter of Champagne forced to rebrand herself - as 'Sparkling Jayne', perhaps, thereby emphasising the very variety of sparkling wines that the Champenois seek to suppress."

Herald Sun

He continues: "If the Comité Champagne wants to protect its integrity, it might be better off pursuing businesses whose line of work really could tarnish its image. The Victoria's Secret lingerie chain, for example, has registered the trademark 'Strawberries & Champagne' in Australia for a range of toiletries. The products don't actually contain any Champagne though, so presumably Comité Champagne Australia will be as swift to take action against the multi-national, multi-billion-dollar US company as it was the freelance journalist who it has driven to the point of bankruptcy."

The Comité Champagne said it was not able to comment whilst the legal case is ongoing.

Subscribers can read Woodward's full article here or in the January issue of Harpers.