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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
Module Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 3

Module Overview and Learning Outcomes............................................................................................................................. 3

Module Map ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Definition and Uses.................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Key Functions ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Overview of Geographical Indications ............................................................................................................................. 9
Definitions of GI in International Conventions and Treaties .................................................................................................. 9
Check Your Learning 1 ........................................................................................................................................................... 10
Geographical Indications vs Trademarks ........................................................................................................................ 11
Some Key Differences ............................................................................................................................................................ 11
Appellation of Origin ..................................................................................................................................................... 12
Knowledge Nugget: What is the difference between appellations of origin and GI? .......................................................... 12
Some Key Differences ............................................................................................................................................................ 13
Check Your Learning 3 ........................................................................................................................................................... 15
Approaches to Protect Geographical Indications ................................................................................................................. 16
The International Legal Framework ...................................................................................................................................... 18
Obtaining Protection of Geographical Indications in Third Countries.................................................................................. 20
Check Your Learning 4 ........................................................................................................................................................... 22
Module Summary .......................................................................................................................................................... 23
Module Quiz.................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Question Set........................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Answer Key ................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Check Your Learning .............................................................................................................................................................. 26
Module Quiz........................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Module Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 29
End of Module 5: Geographical Indications .................................................................................................................... 29

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 Module Introduction
Module Overview and Learning Outcomes

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 Module Map

This module is divided into four topics. You are required to complete the topics sequentially in order to best meet the
module learning outcomes. Select the first topic to begin learning more about this module.

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 Definition and Uses

Geographical indications or GIs are signs identifying goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess a given
quality, reputation or other characteristic that is essentially attributable to that origin. They can be used for both agricultural
and industrial products.

Given below are the various uses of GIs.

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 Key Functions

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 Overview of Geographical Indications
Definitions of GI in International Conventions and Treaties

Let’s look at the definitions of geographical indications in the various international convention and treaties.

Indications of Source: An indication of source is “an indication referring to a country, or to a place situated therein as being
the country or place of origin of a product”. An indication of source provides information about the geographical origin of
a product but does not imply any special quality or characteristic of the product for which it is used.

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 Check Your Learning 1

You have reached the end of this topic. Check your learning by performing this self-assessment question.

Were you able to think of any? If not, try to think why this might be. Is the idea of intellectual property not well known
amongst local producers or do they not see the value in such distinctive signs?

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 Geographical Indications vs Trademarks
Some Key Differences

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 Appellation of Origin
Knowledge Nugget: What is the difference between appellations of origin and
GI?

You may have come across the term appellation of origin.

What is the difference between appellations of origin and geographical indications?

The term “appellation of origin” is defined in the Lisbon Agreement (1958) for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and
their International Registration as the geographical denomination of a country, region, or locality, which serves to designate
a product originating therein, the quality or characteristics of which are due exclusively or essentially to the geographical
environment, including natural and human factors and which has given the product its reputation.

Appellations of origin are a subcategory of geographical indications.

More specifically, an appellation of origin is a geographical indication with more stringent criteria for usage as it requires a
stronger connection between the quality or characteristics of a product and its geographical environment, including both
natural (that is soil, weather, etc.) and human factors (that is know-how).

For example, an appellation of origin requires that the raw materials

be sourced in the place of origin and that the processing of the product
also takes place there. This is very common with agricultural products
such as Roquefort cheese.

The characteristics of the milk obtained from indigenous breeds of sheep fed according to tradition, the characteristics of
the caves in which the cheese is aged and the traditional know-how used in each step of the cheese-making process give
Roquefort its unique features and taste.

If you were to use the same method of cheese making in a different set of caves you would end up with a different taste,
and the result would not be Roquefort cheese. The same applies to the natural conditions that influence wine growing such
as climate, soils, etc.

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 Some Key Differences

The definition you just reviewed suggests that appellations of origin consist of the name of the product’s place of origin.
Given below is a comparison between the concept of geographical indications and appellations of origin.

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 Check Your Learning 2

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 Check Your Learning 3

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 Protection of Geographical Indications
Approaches to Protect Geographical Indications

How are geographical indications be protected?

Geographical indications are protected through a wide variety of approaches, developed in accordance with different
legal traditions and various historical and economic conditions. The major ones are the Sui Generis system, and the
Trademark law.

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 The International Legal Framework

There are four major legal frameworks for the protection of geographical indications: the Paris Convention, Madrid
agreement and Protocol, TRIPS agreements and Lisbon agreement.

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 Obtaining Protection of Geographical Indications in Third Countries

There are four main routes for protecting a geographical indication abroad.

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 Check Your Learning 4

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 Module Summary

Often persons who are exposed to geographical indications and trademarks for the first time, indicate that geographical
indications look very much like the idea of trademarks which were covered in the previous module. However, on further
examination there are considerable differences between the two.

Both geographical indications and trademarks are essentially distinctive signs used to distinguish goods or services in the
marketplace and enable consumers to associate a good or service with a specific quality or reputation. However, trademarks
identify a good or service as originating from a particular company, while geographical indications identify a good as
originating from a particular geographical place or name associated to a geographical place.

Appellations of origin are a subcategory of geographical indications. More specifically, an appellation of origin is a
geographical indication with more stringent criteria for usage as it requires a stronger connection between the quality or
characteristics of a product and its geographical environment, including both natural (i.e. soil, weather, etc.) and human
factors (i.e. know-how). For example, an appellation of origin requires that the raw materials be sourced in the place of
origin and that the processing of the product also takes place there.

Depending on the country or region geographical indications can be protected either through a sui generis system, through
trademark law or through laws on unfair competition or consumer protection.

Geographical indications can be protected abroad by reciprocal arrangements between countries or through the Lisbon
System, including the Lisbon Agreement and the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement or by the Madrid system for the
International registration of marks. This might be the route chosen for those originating countries that protect GIs via the
trademark and unfair completion laws.

In the next module another part Industrial Intellectual property, industrial design protection will be described.

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 Module Quiz
Question Set

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 Answer Key
Check Your Learning

ID No Check Your Learning Questions and Model Answers

Question: List 2 or 3 geographical indications that are used in your own country.

Question: Which of the following statements are TRUE regarding geographical indications, trademarks and
appellation of origin?

Question: As a way of reinforcing your understanding write about 100 words explaining to a non-expert the
purpose and the use of Geographical indications.

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 Question: Which of the following statements are false regarding the various legal frameworks and laws that
protect geographical indications?

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 Module Quiz

Question Question Correct Answer/s

Number

1 What is the purpose of a geographical indication? a. To promote commerce by

informing the customers of the
origin of goods

2 Choose the geographical indicators from the following. c. Bordeaux Wine

3 Choose two methods that are used by countries to protect geographical a. By decree
indications nationally. d. By a register

4 Choose from the list the name of the WIPO administered treaty that is c. The Lisbon agreement
concerned with the protection of appellations of origin.

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 Module Resources

Legislative Texts

Name Hyperlink

Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial https://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/paris/

Property (the Paris Convention)

Madrid Agreement for the Repression of False or https://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/madrid/

Deceptive Indications of Source on Goods

Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of https://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/registration/lisbon/

Origin and their International Registration and Geneva
Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin
and Geographical Indications

The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/trips_e.h

Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement). tm

End of Module 5: Geographical Indications

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