GI Blues: The Global Disagreement Over Geographical Indications
EMERGING CHALLENGES IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, pp. 126-144, Kathy Bowrey, Michael Handler, Dianne Nicol, eds., Oxford University Press, 2011
19 Pages Posted: 7 Aug 2012
Date Written: July 22, 2012
Abstract
This chapter explores the vexed question of the legal protection of geographical indications of origin, or ‘GIs’, which control how terms indicating geographical origin may be used in relation to goods such as foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages. For many years GI protection has caused significant controversy among policy makers. More specifically, the debate over GIs tends to be characterized as a battle between the EU on the one hand, and various agricultural producers such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand on the other, over appropriate legal standards. The authors argue that although European policy makers make achievements on this issue, a global agreement on GI protection remains far away.
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation