Fonterra Brands v Consorzio: Parmesan as Translation of Parmigiano Reggiano
In a dispute before the Court of Appeal of Singapore, Fonterra Brands (Singapore) Pte Ltd appealed against the decision that the term 'Parmesan' is a translation of the geographical indication 'Parmigiano Reggiano,' held by Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano. The court, with Judith Prakash SJ delivering the judgment, allowed Fonterra's appeal, holding that 'Parmesan' is not a translation of 'Parmigiano Reggiano' under the Geographical Indications Act, considering consumer perception and marketing practices in Singapore.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
Court of Appeal of the Republic of Singapore1.2 Outcome
Appeal Allowed
1.3 Case Type
Intellectual Property
1.4 Judgment Type
Judgment
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Singapore Court of Appeal: The term 'Parmesan' is not a translation of 'Parmigiano Reggiano' under the Geographical Indications Act.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fonterra Brands (Singapore) Pte Ltd | Appellant | Corporation | Appeal Allowed | Won | |
| Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano | Respondent | Association | Opposition Dismissed | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Tay Yong Kwang | Justice of the Court of Appeal | No |
| Belinda Ang Saw Ean | Justice of the Court of Appeal | No |
| Judith Prakash | Senior Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
4. Facts
- Fonterra sought to qualify the rights of the GI 'Parmigiano Reggiano' to exclude the term 'Parmesan'.
- The Consorzio opposed Fonterra's request, arguing that 'Parmesan' is a translation of 'Parmigiano Reggiano'.
- The Registrar initially proposed to allow Fonterra's request, but the Consorzio filed an opposition.
- The Principal Assistant Registrar allowed the opposition, rejecting Fonterra's request.
- The High Court dismissed Fonterra's appeal, holding that 'Parmesan' is a translation of 'Parmigiano Reggiano'.
- Fonterra appealed to the Court of Appeal.
- Marketing practices in Singapore show 'Parmesan' cheese products originating from countries outside Italy.
5. Formal Citations
- Fonterra Brands (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano, Civil Appeal No 37 of 2023, [2024] SGCA 53
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Geographical Indications Bill 2014 discussed at Second Reading | |
| Parmigiano Reggiano GI formally registered | |
| Fonterra filed request to qualify rights | |
| Registrar proposed to allow the Request | |
| Consorzio filed an opposition to the Request | |
| Principal Assistant Registrar heard the Opposition | |
| Appeal in HC/TA 8/2022 | |
| Judgment reserved | |
| Judgment reserved | |
| Judgment delivered |
7. Legal Issues
- Translation of Geographical Indication
- Outcome: The court held that 'Parmesan' is not a translation of 'Parmigiano Reggiano' under the Geographical Indications Act.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Consumer perception of translation
- Faithful vs. literal translation
- Burden of Proof in Qualification of Rights
- Outcome: The court held that the party requesting the qualification of rights bears the burden of proof.
- Category: Procedural
8. Remedies Sought
- Qualification of Rights to Exclude 'Parmesan' from the GI 'Parmigiano Reggiano'
9. Cause of Actions
- Request for Qualification of Rights under the Geographical Indications Act
10. Practice Areas
- Intellectual Property Litigation
11. Industries
- Food and Beverage
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consorzio di Tutela della Denominazione di Origine Controllata Prosecco v Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2023] 2 SLR 509 | Singapore | Cited regarding the burden of proof in opposition proceedings and consumer surveys. |
| Fonterra Brands (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano | High Court | Yes | [2023] SGHC 77 | Singapore | The High Court decision that is being appealed in the current judgment. |
| Courts (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Big Box Corp Pte Ltd | High Court | Yes | [2018] 5 SLR 312 | Singapore | Cited to illustrate that dictionaries should not be definitively relied upon to reflect the usage of certain words among the local population in Singapore. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| Rule 26 of the Supreme Court of Judicature(Intellectual Property) Rules 2022 (S 205/2022) |
| Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 40 of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 40(2) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 40(4) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 40(5) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 41(1) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 44(1)(a) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 44(1)(c) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 44(4) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 65 of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 65(2) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 65(3) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 65(5) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
| Rule 65(6)–65(7) of the Geographical Indication Rules 2019 |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 32(2)(e) of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 4(6) of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 46 of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 46(1)(b) of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 46(2)(b) of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 46(7) of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 45 of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 41(1)(f) of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 41(1)(a) of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 41(1)(e) of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 48(1) of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Section 52(1) of the Geographical Indications Act 2014 | Singapore |
| Sale of Food Act (Cap 283, 2002 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- Parmesan
- Geographical Indication
- Translation
- Qualification of Rights
- Consumer Perception
- Genericness
- Marketing Practices
15.2 Keywords
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- Parmesan
- Geographical Indication
- Singapore
- Intellectual Property
- Translation
- Consumer Perception
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Intellectual Property Law | 95 |
| Geographical indications | 90 |
| Qualification of rights | 85 |
| Translation | 75 |
| Burden of proof | 40 |
| Evidence Law | 30 |
| Jurisdiction | 20 |
| Contractual terms | 10 |
16. Subjects
- Intellectual Property Law
- Geographical Indications
- Translation
- Food and Beverage Industry