February the 13th 2008 : Promoting wine and alcohol on the Internet is forbidden.
The distinction between giving one's opinion or any information on wine and actually promoting wine is very subtle.
This ruling of the Paris Court of Appeal threatens each and every single french-speaking website related to wine and alcohol, be it a blog, an information website or an online wine merchant.
A recent ruling of the Paris Court of Appeal is banning French Wine and Alcohols from the Internet, arguing that it is not one of the media listed by the french "Loi Evin" (regulating the promotion of alcohol in the media) that are authorized to be used for the promotion of wine and alcohol.
It is completely legal to promote wine and alcohol in the written press but in the Loi Evin (passed in 1991), the internet isn't listed as one of the authorized media. OF COURSE, THERE WAS NO INTERNET IN 1991.
The result is that today, it is forbidden to promote wine on the Internet. This petition isn't about the promotion of wine and alcohol on the internet. It is about freedom of speech.
Journalists, bloggers, winemakers, wine merchants are all threatened in their freedom of speech.
Should they talk with enthusiasm about the wines they like, they might be fined and have to close their websites in accordance with the french Evin law.
In other words, wine will dissapear from the french-speaking web.
This petition aims to update the French Law so as to safeguard freedom of speech on the Internet.
Sign it to show your solidarity with the French wine Web Community. And spread the word!
Sign the petition now!
This petition's purpose is the sole defense of freedom of speach.
No information gathered will ever be used for commercial purposes.