I'm working on a paper about geographical indications, and the history of the struggle between the United States and Europe on protecting local products such as Roquefort, Champagne, etc. Here's an exchange between Jon Dudas, an official in the Commerce Department, and representative Bob Goodlatte of Virgina:

MR. DUDAS: And Roquefort cheese has been registered and protected in the United States since 1953. Registered and certainly could have been protected under a common law before that. And you point out, parmesan cheese is generic in the United States, but parmegiana reggiana is a protected geographical indication.

REP. GOODLATTE: Is that a brand of parmesan cheese?

MR. DUDAS: It's a type of parmesan cheese that comes from a region in Italy.

And Goodlatte is the guy in charge of Congress's negotiations on this issue? Flurgggh!