PROTECTION OF GEOGRAPHICAL
INDICATIONS FOR ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL BENEFITS
BY P. KANDIAH
KASS INTERNATIONAL SDN BHD
“The IP Experts”
1
Fiji Bottled Water
“The IP Experts”
2
Persian
e s a Ca
Carpet
pe
“The IP Experts”
3
Champagne
“The IP Experts”
Scotch Whisky
4
Geographical Indication
An indication which anyy g
goods as originating
g
g
in a country or territory, or a region or locality
in that country or territory, where a given
quality, reputation or other characteristic of
the goods is essentially attributable to their
geographical origin
“The IP Experts”
5
Relationship
Normal Mark
Trademarks
Certification Mark
Collective Mark
GIs
Owned by
institution,
association,
i ti
society, etc
Owned
O
d by
b a
community
E.g.
g
Owned by
single person
“The IP Experts”
Owned by a
certifying body
6
Globalisation of Trade
R
Research
h&D
Development
l
t
D i
Design
BEFORE
Used
U
d tto b
be d
done iin one
place, one country
P t T
Proto-Type
NOW
S ll S
Small
Scale
l M
Manufacture
f t
L
Large
S
Scale
l M
Manufacture
f t
Advantageously done at
separate locations and
countries
M k ti
Marketing
“The IP Experts”
7
Emergence of Multinational Companies
Gl b l M
Global
Manufacturing
f t i & Marketing
M k ti P
Power
Power of Advertising, Marketing & Sales
g internet
through
(Level Playing Field ??)
“The IP Experts”
8
Battle of Wines
Old W
World
ld
[Europe]
vs
New W
N
World
ld
[Australia, South Africa, New
Zealand Chile
Zealand,
Chile, Peru
Peru, Argentina
Argentina,
India, California, China (?), Turkey,
Brazil]]
Strike back using GIs
Trade Settlement on right to use GIs and market
access.
Ref: www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/disputes
g
g
p
(dispute on GIs for agricultured products and
foodstuff)
“The IP Experts”
9
Battle of Whiskeys
GI – “Scotch Whiskey”
What is “Scotch Whiskey”
y
Entitlement to call or describe whiskey as “Scotch
Whiskey
Whiskey”
Case in Malaysia, India, Canada
B
d “S
t h Whi
k ”
Beyond
“Scotch
Whiskey”
Use of symbols, indications referring to Scotland
E.g. Scottish Kilts, word such “Glen”, “Mac”, “Mc”
GI + Plus
Plus” – e.g.
e g taste like “Champagne”
Champagne
“GI
“The IP Experts”
10
Battle of Chocolates
“Swiss Chocolates”
 GI
or Certification Mark or Collective Mark?
M l
Malaysia
i case: use off words
d “M
“Maestro
t S
Swiss”
i ”
BANCO ZURICH??
ZURICH PHARMACY??
“The IP Experts”
11
GIs serve
 to promote the sales off a product (with
(
a
trademark)
 to defend encroachment into the market
((as a weapon
p of mass destruction?))
GI is a trade weapon in the market place!
Frontiers of GIs are constantly being extended
“The IP Experts”
12
GIs are not forever!
Need to maintain characteristic off GIs
G
 Enforcing rights
 Maintain quality
 Strictly adopt regulations of use
Oth
Otherwise
i GIs
GI degenerate
d
t into
i t descriptive
d
i ti product
d t
E.g. Swiss Knife
“The IP Experts”
13
Lessons for developing countries
 Identify uniqueness of product in country (exotic,
fresh,, virgin,
g , etc))
Product
“The IP Experts”
Natural products,
products e
e.g.,
g fruits
fruits, crops
crops,
etc
A i lt l goods,
Agricultural
d e.g., wine,
i
chocolates, cheese
Handicrafts / Industrial
14
Lessons for developing countries (Cont’d)
 Draft Rules, Terms & Conditions of Use of GIs
 Register
R i t GI
GIs in
i own country
t and
d in
i other
th
countries
 Marketing of Products
g , e.g.
g PONNI rice in
 Enforcement of Rights,
Malaysia
“The IP Experts”
15
Battle for GIs in Coffee
 Columbia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Vietnam
“The IP Experts”
16
Examples of GIs







MALAYSIA
Sabah Tea
Sarawak Pepper
Bario Rice
Tenom Coffee
Borneo Virgin
C
Coconut
Oil
Sabah Seaweed
Buah Limau Bali
Sungai Gedung







INDIA
Basmati Rice
Darjeeling Tea
Kanchipuram Silk
S
Sarees
Alphonso
Mangoes
Nagpur Oranges
K lh
Kolhapuri
i
Chappal
Ponni Rice




USA
Florida Oranges
Idaho Potatoes
Washington
St t Apples
State
A l
Vidalia Onions
“The IP Experts”
17
Australia: www.winediva.com.au
(battle for distinctiveness of each
wine
producing
region
in
Australia)
Japan:
“The IP Experts”
Distinct agricultural regions for crops
(akin to GIs)
18
THANK YOU
P. KANDIAH
Tel: +603 2284 7872
Fax: +603 2284 1125
E-mail:
E
mail: [email protected]
“The IP Experts”
19