Proving Provenance? Geographical Indications Certification and its Ambiguities

Protected Geographical Indications: A Development Tool for Cambodia Protected Geographical Indications in Cambodia

This central objective is manifest in the sectoral strategies implemented by the various government ministries. For the Ministry of Agriculture, notably, the goal is to increase the incomes of small farmers. Given the very competitive agricultural sectors of its Thai and Vietnamese neighbors, Cambodia wishes to better showcase the quality of its products and obtain better prices for them.

The Socio-Economics of Geographical Indications

Like trademarks and brands, indications of geographical origin (GIs) play an important role in signalling a certain level of quality. The collective reputation embodied in the indication requires protection from misappropriation and dilution. Protection of indications generates incentives for investments in maintaining a level of quality that consumers have come to expect. Further, misappropria...

Whither (Wither?) Geographical Indications? The Case Against Geographical Indications and For Appellations of Origin in an Era of Glocalization

One of the most hotly contested legal debates in international intellectual property law today concerns geographical indications (GIs) and appellations of origin (AOOs), referred to herein using the umbrella term “indication of origin” (IO). Central to the debate are two different systems for IOs—the sui generis system of AOOs and the like promoted by IO advocates like the EU (generally civil l...

The Protection of Geographical Indications in India: Issues and Challenges

Geographical Indications, Property Rights, and Value-Added Agriculture

What do Vidalia onions, Wisconsin cheese, and Kona coffee have that feta cheese, champagne, and cognac do not? The first three products have trademark protection for their brand names (in this case, through U.S. trademark law). The latter three have no brand name protection, but that could change. Protection would become available for the latter products if E.U. proposals to increase protection...