RS 4702 - Legislative findings
A. The legislature finds that the terms "Cajun" and "Louisiana Creole" are terms that refer to the unique and distinctive culture and lifestyle that originated in, are connected with and have continued to flourish in a region within the state of Louisiana.
B. The legislature finds that the terms "Cajun" and "Louisiana Creole" when used in commerce in connection with goods, including agricultural goods, or services refer to and are generally recognized and accepted by Louisiana, national and foreign consumers as referring to, originating in or being substantially connected with the state of Louisiana and the unique and distinctive Cajun and Louisiana Creole cultures and lifestyles that originated in, are connected with and have continued to flourish in a region within the state of Louisiana.
C. The legislature finds that the use of the terms "Cajun" and "Louisiana Creole," when used in commerce in connection with goods, including agricultural goods, or services that do not originate in, are not substantially connected with, or are not substantially transformed in the state of Louisiana, or in or with that unique and distinctive Cajun and Louisiana Creole cultures and lifestyles that originated in, are connected with and have continued to flourish in a region within the state of Louisiana, are primarily geographically deceptively misdescriptive and are likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception as to the origin, sponsorship, affiliation, connection or approval of said goods or services in, by, with or of the state of Louisiana.
D. The legislature deems it appropriate and in the best interests of the state of Louisiana and its citizens to adopt, appropriate, and establish the terms "Cajun" and "Louisiana Creole" and any derivative or combination of either term as certification marks, to be owned by the state of Louisiana and to be used by others engaged in commerce to certify Louisiana as the geographical and regional origin of certain goods, including agricultural goods, or services that originate in, are substantially connected with or have been substantially transformed in the state of Louisiana; to limit the use of the certification marks to those goods, including agricultural goods, or services that originate in, are substantially connected with or have been substantially transformed in the state of Louisiana; and to protect said certification marks against misuse and infringement, in order to ensure that consumers are not deceived or confused as to the origin, sponsorship, affiliation, connection or approval of said goods or services in, by, with or of the state of Louisiana.
Acts 2006, No. 124, §1, eff. June 2, 2006.