TRIPS and Geographical Indications

TRIPS and Geographical Indications
Natale Rampazzo, University of Naples

The protection of geographical indications has been a controversial issue between the old and new world from the beginning. DS 174 concerns the conflict between trade marks and geographical indications. Starting in 1992 with the EU-Australia Wine Agreement, a rising number of bilateral agreements between the EU and third countries have now mandated protection of specifically listed indications, and also the successful conclusion of the Geneva Act to the Lisbon Agreement has given a new impetus towards world-wide protection, but also towards renewed conflicts. And while the EU claims to champion geographical indications in negotiations
with third countries, there may be an internal movement to water down the quality requirements of geographical indications in order to accommodate producers at the expense of consumers.