(Lyon) A dispute opposes the son of Paul Bocuse, the mythical chef from Lyon who died in 2018, and the eponymous culinary institute based in Lyon, around the use of this famous name around the world, we learned with the parties.
Jérôme Bocuse’s lawyers have denounced before the Lyon court the contract signed by the chef during his lifetime and hope for a decision “by the end of 2023 at the latest”, explained to AFP Me Carine Piccio.
“As it is a contract whose termination has already been notified for serious and repeated faults over time, we want to have the situation recorded in court”, she specifies.
On the side of the Paul Bocuse Institute, school of management of the hotel industry, catering and culinary arts (IPB), it is “misunderstanding”.
“We are accused of intentions on approaches and differences that would have economic connotations. This is not the case”, regrets Dominique Giraudier, the general manager of this private institute which welcomes some 1200 students on ten campuses.
The local press closely follows this affair, which the lawyers of the heir son describe as linked to “a right to precarious use of the Bocuse name”.
“This contract, which is not a trademark license, grants nothing else to the institute, no marketing of the Bocuse name, no association of the Bocuse name with X or Y brands, etc. “, explains M.e Carine Piccio.
However, the son of the late chef believes that the Institute makes “real commercial use of the name”, for example with frozen products stamped with “recipes from the Paul Bocuse Institute”.
Who owns the trademark? Can the Institut Paul Bocuse claim rights and have a “use of the name of the school in a public and peaceful manner”, as the IPB council puts it? Justice will have to decide.
“Throughout his career, Paul Bocuse has promoted fresh produce, short circuits, and has made sure that his name and his image carry the values of tradition. It was out of the question for him that the institute use his name in a way contrary to what he was defending, ”says M.e piccio.
“I respect Jérôme Bocuse’s wish to do what he wants with his brand and his surname, but we cannot accuse the school of having misled this when we see the school’s successes, and what that can carry as a positive image in memory of this great leader”, affirms Dominique Giraudier.
“We are one of the best schools identified in the world for our professions”, he underlines, recalling that the strategy is “supported by a board of directors which brings together around twenty companies and patrons”.