EU

European Patent Office gives a Sneak Preview of new Mercedes Limousine

Automakers go to great lengths to keep their designs secret, but more often than not they leak out somehow. One way in which design sketches of upcoming automobiles find their way from the studio out into the public realm has been the patent office of the European Union. The latest to leak out from the bureau is a stretched limousine version of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class. In this case, it wasn't just one sketch that leaked out, but several, detailing a range of factory-available modification possibilities for the mid-size luxury sedan, starting with a slight increase and extending all the way up to a full extra set of doors like those found on funeral home limos. Likely to be called the E-Class Pullman, the stretched Mercedes is likely to benefit from all manner of luxury equipment to transport its occupants in opulent comfort to rival even its corporate cousins from Maybach. Follow the link to Autoblog to view more of the patent sketches, and stay tuned for more information as Mercedes prepares the new E-Class Pullman for market debut.

Source

Tags: e class, e-class, EClass, eu, eu patent office, EuPatentOffice, european union, european union patent office, EuropeanUnion, EuropeanUnionPatentOffice, limo, limousine, mercedes, mercedes-benz, mercedes-benz e-class, mercedes-benz e-class pullman, Mercedes-benzE-class, Mercedes-benzE-classPullman, patent, patent office, PatentOffice, pullman

European Union Extends U.S. Wine Restrictions

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

After twenty years of grappling over the trade agreement between winemakers in Europe and the U.S., 2005 marked the beginning of a somewhat peaceful understanding between the two markets -- with a few conditions. At that time the words 'Champagne', 'Burgundy', 'Port' and 'Sherry' were no longer allowed to be used in America. Just this past month the EU added another restriction to American winemakers' verbage. Wines bearing these words on their labels will no longer be sold in Europe:

'chateau', 'classic', 'clos', 'cream', 'crusted/crusting', 'fine', 'late bottled vintage', 'noble', 'ruby', 'superior', 'sur lie', 'tawny', 'vintage' or 'vintage character.'

Bureaucracy at its finest. I certainly understand protecting rights to regions but not simple words with more than a location's name at heart.

Source

Tags: american wine, AmericanWine, EU, europe, wine label, wine labels, wine language, WineLabel, WineLabels, WineLanguage