ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 6, 1994                   TAG: 9405060108
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: PARIS                                LENGTH: Short

ADVERTISERS MUST 'JUST DO IT' IN FRENCH

The product may be as American as apple pie. Or a Coke or Big Mac. But under a law passed Thursday by the National Assembly, advertising for these or any other goods and services must be in French.

Aimed at curbing the encroachment of English, the bill already has won approval in the Senate and now heads back there for virtually certain final passage after consideration of some amendments added by the assembly.

The bill requires the use of French in all print and audiovisual advertising. An amendment added by the assembly specifically rules out using trademarked slogans as a loophole - Nike, for example, presumably would have to translate ``Just Do It'' when it advertises in France.

- Associated Press 


 by CNB