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21/09/2021 – Call for candidates: President, Vice-Presidents and Members of the Executive Committee of oriGIn
Dear member of oriGIn, In preparation of our 2021 Biannual Meeting – which will be held virtually on 23-24 November , according to Articles 6.2 and 6.3 of the oriGIn’s Statutes, the calls for candidates for the positions of President, Vice-Presidents…
Legal Systems to Protect GIs
The sui generis system, «ad hoc Laws of protection» The sui generis system concerns laws specifically aimed at protecting geographical indications. How are the rights established? Generally speaking protection is based on compulsory registration. Under European Regulation 510/2006[1], within the…
GI Protection in Africa
African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) i. General description The Bangui Agreement, establishing the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), applies directly in each Member State. It represents the “IP Law” of its Member States[1]. Under the Bangui Agreement (Annex IV), GIs…
GI Protection in Asia
China i. General description In the People’s Republic of China GIs can be protected through trademarks or through sui generis system. The Trademark regime covers trademarks with geographical names for goods and services[1]. The sui generis system is administrated…
GI Protection in Europe
The European Union i. General description In the European Union GIs are protected through a sui generis system. ii. Legal framework Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes…
GI Protection in North America
Canada i.General description In Canada Geographical Indications are protected through certification marks. The Trademarks Act contains specific rules concerning the protection of Geographical Indications for wines and spirits. ii. Legal Framework Trademarks Act of 1985, as amended in 1996…
GI Protection in Oceania
Australia i. General description Geographical indications are protected in Australia through trademarks. A sui generis regime is available only for wines and spirits. GIs can also be protected via common law tort of “passing off”, trade practices law and labelling…
GI Protection in South America
Andean Community i.General description In the Andean Community (CAN) GIs are protected through a sui generis system. The rules are harmonized for all the Members States[1]. ii. Legal framework DECISION 486, of the Commission of the Cartagena Agreement of…
Legal Info
GI Protection in National Jurisdictions International Negotiations on GIs GI Protection in Oceania Australia i. General description Geographical indications are protected in Australia through trademarks. A sui generis regime is available only for wines and spirits. GIs can also be…
14/09/2021 – Australia-New Zealand: Conflict over a geographical name
In July, the Australian Trade Marks Office issued a decision in the Manuka Honey Appellation Society Incorporated v Lawrence Michael Howes . The Mānuka Honey Appellation Society Incorporated (MHAS) is a New Zealand society established with the objective of protecting the…
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All you need to know about GIs
GIs have become a global phenomenon. As a result, national laws are rapidly evolving. Are you familiar with your national regulation concerning GIs? Do you know the applicable rules in foreign countries where you are (or wish to be) exporting?…
Our Members
Members (In alphabetical order) Associate members (In alphabetical order) Members groups (Consorzi, Consejos Reguladores, Federations, Interprofessions, ODG, etc.) representing a GI or associations representing several GIs at the national or regional level, from the same sector or from multiple sectors.…
Bilateral/Plurilateral Agreements
Together with a sound multilateral legal framework for GIs (which must set-up in an transparent way a solid level of protection as a guarantee for businesses and consumers around the world), oriGIn encourages the conclusion of those bilateral agreements (Free…
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
From 2008 to 2015, oriGIn successfully campaigned for the revision of the WIPO Lisbon Agreement on the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration, in particular for its modernization and the strengthening of protection for Geographical Indications and Appellations…
Internet Domain Names Environment
oriGIn believes that the ICANN process of attribution of new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) – as well as the system of traditional gTLDs (.com, .int, .org, etc.) and of country code ccTLDs (“.ch”, “.ca”, “.uk”, etc.) should be fully compatible with…
World Trade Organization (WTO)
While at the WTO, negotiations on GIs have not taken place since 2014, oriGIn remains a strong supporter of GIs in the context of an open and rules-based multilateral trading system. 17/06/2020 – Publication of the Appellate Body report…
Brexit
Brexit” has occurred on 31 January 2020 and the United Kingdom (UK) left the European Union (EU). Following the Revised Withdrawal Agreement ratified by both parties, a transition period has begun and will run until December 31, 2020. Within this period, GIs from…
Relation with Trademarks
GIs and trademarks are 2 categories of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) which deserve protection according to well established international rules. oriGIn campaigns, and supports its members, to ensure that the national, regional and international rules concerning the relations between GIs…
Enforcement
oriGIn supports all effective mechanisms (court, out of court, opposition in the context of trademarks’ application, …) to enforce GIs rights. In this context, mechanisms of administrative protection, which make it easier and less onerous for groups to enforce their…
