Hands off our kilts: Scots bid to copyright their national dress

[Mike_Oettle]

Reading through the more recent posts in this thread, a thought came to mind that has nothing to do with kilts or things Scottish, but might be worth bearing in mind when EU definitions of products are under discussion:
The French cling fervently to the uniqueness of their Champagne, the Spanish to their Sherry (product of Jerez), the Portuguese to their Port wine (from Oporto), the Madeirans to their Madeira wine. But not one of these products became established in their own countries until the English decided that they like to drink them.
So for all their narrow-minded claiming of the names, they owe England a debt of gratitude.
And as a South African I find it odd that makers of sherry, port and “sparkling wine” in my country are being forced to find other names for their products, especially when (as is often the case) they are equal to, or even superior to, the “native” product from Europe.
Any day now our cheese makers will be forced to drop the names feta, Cheddar and Gouda (interestingly, when I was growing up nobody in South Africa referred to Gouda; it was called sweetmilk cheese).