Geographical Indications to Protect IP: Overcoming Challenges in Registering and Enforcing GIs

This CLE course will guide IP counsel in protecting product brands using geographical indications (GIs). The panel will examine both U.S. and EU frameworks for safeguarding GIs. The panel will also discuss the challenges of registering and enforcing GIs and will offer best practices for overcoming those challenges to shield GIs and the brands.

GIs identify a product as coming from a particular region that is well known for the high quality of that product. GIs are source identifiers and, like trademarks, add value and IP protection. In the U.S. GIs can be protected as trademarks. The best known example of a GI is Champagne. Other examples are Vidalia onions and Florida oranges.

GIs are not limited to the U.S. Many EU member states, including Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, are subject to regulations that protect registered GIs for agricultural products, foodstuffs, and alcoholic beverages. The European Commission maintains the GI register. Many other countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Egypt, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Venezuela also have registration systems for GIs.

IP owners should understand both domestic and foreign regimes of GI protection to leverage the increased value stemming from GIs to their goods in the U.S. and abroad.

Listen as our authoritative panel of IP attorneys examines the framework for protection of GIs in the U.S. and the EU. The panel will discuss the challenges in registering and enforcing GIs and will offer guidance on overcoming registration and enforcement challenges to protect GIs and the brands.