Jancis Robinson and Andrew Jefford: Could these sites be banned in France and their authors arrested?Although the French wine industry last week saw off the absurd proposal that there should a charge for all wine tastings – both professional and amateur – the war is not yet won. The legality of mentioning alcohol on the internet has still not been resolved. It seems likely that the French Parliament will make the mention of alcohol on the net legal but it may be severely circumscribed. There is an amendment from UMP Yves Bur from Alsace (Bas-Rhin) and the socialist deputy Jean-Marie Le Guen (Paris) that would restrict the mention of alcohol to only those sites run by producers or négociants.
This would mean that all wine sites run by writers/journalists, magazines, all blogging sites except those run by producers or négociants would be illegal in France. This would presumably mean that eRobertParker, the Wine Spectator, Jancis Robinson, Tom Cannavan’s Wine-Pages, Jamie Goode’s Wine Anorak etc. etc. would all be illegal in France. So, too, presumably any mention of alcohol in on-line newspapers.
'What future for wine if you can no longer talk about it?'
Good and pertinent question on a road sign in Anjou last summer
(photo from Micaela and Sue, La Grande Maison)
It would also hit other types of site, tourist sites for instance, that are likely to mention wine or spirits like Cognac, Armagnac or Calvados.
As all wine sites can be accessed in France does this mean that anybody running a wine site anywhere in the world, who is not a producer or négociant, will be breaking French law? If this is case will Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson, for example, be in danger of arrest and being dragged before the French courts next time they visit France?
See also:
This wine forum thread on Tom Cannavan's wine pages
Various postings on Hervé Lalau's Chroniques Vineuses
This post and others on Wine Brands
This would mean that all wine sites run by writers/journalists, magazines, all blogging sites except those run by producers or négociants would be illegal in France. This would presumably mean that eRobertParker, the Wine Spectator, Jancis Robinson, Tom Cannavan’s Wine-Pages, Jamie Goode’s Wine Anorak etc. etc. would all be illegal in France. So, too, presumably any mention of alcohol in on-line newspapers.
'What future for wine if you can no longer talk about it?'Good and pertinent question on a road sign in Anjou last summer
(photo from Micaela and Sue, La Grande Maison)
It would also hit other types of site, tourist sites for instance, that are likely to mention wine or spirits like Cognac, Armagnac or Calvados.
As all wine sites can be accessed in France does this mean that anybody running a wine site anywhere in the world, who is not a producer or négociant, will be breaking French law? If this is case will Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson, for example, be in danger of arrest and being dragged before the French courts next time they visit France?
See also:
This wine forum thread on Tom Cannavan's wine pages
Various postings on Hervé Lalau's Chroniques Vineuses
This post and others on Wine Brands
