As in many other areas of international cooperation, Geneva has played a crucial role in shaping the principles and standards for protecting Intellectual Property (IP) since the 20th century. Geographical Indications (GIs) as part of the international IP family, are no exception.

In 1958, the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration was adopted within the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The GI concept was officially introduced at the international level in 1994 through the TRIPS Agreement, concluded under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In 2015, the Lisbon Agreement was modernized by adopting its Geneva Act on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications. The number...