World Intellectual

Property Organization

The Protection of Geographical Indications: the Context

Marie-Paule RizoHead of the Design and

Geographical Indication Law SectionWIPO

Outline

What are GIs ?

Why GIs ?

What products are GIs for?

Some statistics around the world

The TRIPS Agreement

– indications which identify a good – as originating in the territory of a Member, or a

region or locality in that territory

– where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good

– is essentially attributable to its geographical origin

GI : IP right for collective use

The definition of GI (Art. 22.1)

Why GIs?

Local development potential

– Participation of local actors

– Reproduction of the social system

– Employment and level of income

(Sylvander, 2004)

Why GIs?

Contribute to preserve traditional know-how and traditional cultural expressions

• Describe traditional processes

• Value and pass on traditional processes and expressions

GIs for what products?

Article 1(3) of the Paris Convention

« Industrial property shall be understood in the broadest sense and shall apply not only to industry and commerce, but likewise to agricultural and extractive industries and to all manufactured or natural products, for example, wines, grain, tobacco leaf, fruit, cattle, minerals, mineral waters, beer, flowers, and flour. »

GIs for what products?

Wines, spirits, foodstuffs, agricultural products

GIs for what products?

Handicrafts

Olinalá boxes Mexico

Chulucanas ceramics Peru

Lamphun brocade Thai silk

GIs for what products?

Manufactured and industrial products

Swiss watches Solingen knives Bohemian crystal

73%

15%

12%

Appellations of Origin Registered under the Lisbon System (803)

Beverages and Related Products (591)

Food Products and Related Products (118)

Non-food Products (94)

Lisbon Agreement

Registrations in force: 803

Distribution of non-food-product appellations (94) by country of origin

38%

24%

20%

7%6% 3%1%1%

Bulgaria (35)

Czech Republic (22)

Cuba (19)

Hungary (7)

France (6)

Mexico (3)

Peru (1)

Slovakia (1)

38%

24%

14%

9%

7%5%

2%

1%

Other (35)

Stones and CeramicObjects (23)

Salts and Minerals (13)

Religious, Ornamental andHandicraft Objects (8)

Glass and Crystal (7)

Textile Products (5)

Games, Playthings andSporting Articles (2)

Musical Instruments (1)

Distribution of non-food-product appellations (94) by product

33%

34%

33% Beverages and RelatedProducts (13)

Food Products andRelated Products (14)

Non-agricultural Products(13)

Registered Geographical Indications in Brazil (40)*

* GIs of Brazilian origin

Source:  INPI, Brazil

Distribution of non-agricultural-product GIs in Brazil (13)

Source:  INPI, Brazil

5

3

2

21

Stones and CeramicObjects (5)

Jewelry and HandicraftObjects (3)

Textile and Lace (2)

Finished Leather andFootwear (2)

Information TechnologyServices (1)

74%

26%Non-agricultural Products(143)

Food Products andRelated Products (50)

Registered Geographical Indications in India (193)*

* Gis of Indian origian

Source:  Geographical Indications Registry, India

30%

17%

13%10%

10%

8%8% 4%

Textile and Lace

Handicraft Objects

Paintings

Toys and Dolls

Jewelry

Stones and Ceramic Objects

Finished Leather and Footwear

Distribution of non-agricultural-product GIs in India (143)

Source: Geographical Indications Registry, India

59%

41% Agricultural and FoodProducts (13)

Non-agricultural Products(9)

Registered GIs in Colombia (19)*

* Gis of Colombian origin

Source: Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio

34%

22%22%

11%11%

Hats (3)

Textiles (2)

Pottery (2)

Basketry (1)

Wood Art Objects (1)

Distribution of non-agricultural-product GIs in Colombia (9)

Source: Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio

Thank you