TRIPS
Council 12 December 1998
Discussion develops on geographical indication
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During its 12 December meeting, the body administering the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏs intellectual property agreement, the Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), discussed at some length a proposed international register of geographical indications.
The focus of the discussion was a proposal from the European Union for a multilateral system for registering geographical indications the use of place names or words associated with a place to identify the origin, type and quality of a product. Among the issues debated was whether negotiations on setting up the system should concentrate on wines or include spirits and other products.
And
it took first steps to prepare its contribution to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
work on electronic commerce and trade facilitation.
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Geographical indications
The EUs proposal comes under an article (23.4) of the TRIPS Agreement which says °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ members will negotiate a multilateral system for notifying and registering protected geographical indications for wines. (The article does not deal with the separate issue of negotiating enhanced protection for geographical indications.)
It proposes including spirits, with the possibility of adding other products at a later stage. Participation (submitting names for registration) would be voluntary. However, products accepted for registration would be protected in all °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ member countries, although the method each country uses would follow its existing practice there would be no need to change countries laws, the EU says.
Existing laws: vastly different approaches
Countries differ considerably in the way their laws handle geographical indications. This is reflected in responses from countries now implementing the TRIPS Agreement mainly developed countries to a °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ questionnaire.
Some have specific geographical indications laws. Others use trademark law, consumer protection law, marketing law or common law or combinations of these.
Some have formal lists of registered geographical indications. Others do not, preferring to rely on court case histories (based on criteria such as consumer protection) to identify where problems have arisen and been sorted out.
Some only recognize place names. Others accept other names that are associated with a place.
As a result, the criteria for providing protection also differ.
The purpose is "transparency and clarity", the EU stressed. The debate covered the following issues:
back to topScope wines alone, or spirits and other products as well?
In the meeting, a number of countries cautioned against being over-ambitious. They included the United States, Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Canada, Chile and Hong Kong.
Some said the new multilateral system should not increase countries burdens and obligations, pointing out that under the EUs proposal each country would have to scrutinize every name submitted for registration. Others emphasized the fact that the agreement only obliges countries to negotiate a system for wines.
Countries in favour of including other products included Iceland (for fish), Czech Republic, Morocco (food and handicrafts), India (expressing in general, a "strong interest"), Venezuela (crafts and industrial products), Cuba (agricultural and other products), Turkey and Nigeria.
back to topVoluntary participation:
Art 23.4 speaks of voluntary participation. Some countries questioned whether the EUs interpretation of "voluntary" is correct when all °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ members would be required to protect names accepted for registration.
back to topAdministration and disputes:
Several countries wanted to know more about these, for example who would judge whether a name can be registered and whether disputes would be handled in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏs Dispute Settlement Body. The EU said these and other details would have to be worked out as discussions about the proposal progress.
The United States said it would shortly table its own proposal.
back to topPlant and animal inventions (Article 27.3b)
The provisions of the TRIPS Agreement allow certain plant and animal inventions (except, for example, microorganisms) to be exempt from patent protection. However, plant varieties have to be protected either by patent or by a special (sui generis) law. These provisions are due for review next year (1999).
The TRIPS Council is now starting its initial, fact-finding step. The chairman, Ambassador István Major of Hungary, concluded that the meeting had decided subject to confirmation by one developing country that:
members already under obligation to apply the provisions should be asked to provide information on how they are doing this,
- those not under obligation could also supply information voluntarily,
- the Secretariat should supply an illustrative list of questions for these, and
Examples of some geographical indications that are protected in some developed countries:
Bulgaria
192
local appellations of origin registered, e.g. Bulgarian
yoghurt, Traminer from Khan Kroum (wine), Merlou from
Sakar (wine)
Canada
Canadian
Rye Whisky, Canadian Whisky, Fraser Valley, Okanagan
Valley, Similkameen Valley, Vancouver Island
Czech
Republic
Beers:
Pilsen, Budweis
Others: various vines, liqueurs, Saaz hops, Auscha hops, Jablonec jewellery, Bohemia crystal, Vamberk lace
European
Union
Wines:
Champagne,
Sherry, Porto, Chianti, Samos, Rheinhessen, Moselle
Luxembourgeoise, Mittleburgenland
Spirits: Cognac, Brandy de Jerez, Grappa di Barolo, Berliner Kümmel, Genièvre Flandres Artois, Scotch Whisky, Irish Whiskey, Tsikoudia (from Crete)
Other products: Newcastle brown ale, Kentish ale, Kentish strong ale, Rutland bitter, Gloucestershire/Herefordshire/Worcestershire cider/perry, Scottish beef, Orkney beef, Orkney lamb, Jersey Royal potatoes, Cornish Clotted Cream, Cabrales, Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Aziete de Moura, Olive de Kalamata, Opperdoezer Ronde, Wachauer Marille, Danablu, Lübecker Marzipan, Svecia, Queijo do Pico, Coquille Saint-Jacques des Côtes-dAmour, Jamón de Huelva, Lammefjordsgulerod
Hungary
Eger
(wine), Szatmar (plum)
Liechtenstein
Malbuner
(meat products), Balzer (Hi-tech products)
Slovak
Republic
Korytnická
minerálna voda (mineral water), Karpatská perla (wine),
Modranská majolika (hand-painted pottery),
Pietanské bahno (healing mud)
United
States
Idaho,
(potatoes and onions), Real California Cheese, Napa
Valley Reserve (still and sparkling wines), Pride of New
York (agricultural products), Ohio River Valley
(viticulture area)
Source: members replies to questionnaire
- , , and the should be invited to supply information.
Pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals (Arts. 70.8 and 70.9)
The issue here is how countries are applying the "mailbox" and exclusive marketing rights provisions (Arts. 70.8 and 70.9) for pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals.
The US has distributed a set of questions addressed to Argentina, Egypt, Paraguay and Uruguay.
back to topIncentives for technology transfer to LDCs(Art. 66.2)
Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement says developed countries must provide incentives for their enterprises and institutions to transfer technology to least developed countries (LDCs) in order to enable these countries "to create a sound and viable technological base".
Haiti, speaking as "the only least developed country in the Americas" asked how developed countries are fulfilling their obligation. Venezuela, Morocco, Pakistan and the Philippines supported Haiti.
The council agreed that Haitis question should be circulated informally and that developed countries should be invited to reply.
back to topNon-violation complaints
GATT provisions allow countries to use raise a complaint in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Dispute Settlement Body if they think their rights have been impaired, even if an agreement has not been violated.
Under the TRIPS Agreement, non-violation complaints are not allowed until the end of 1999. Some countries want this moratorium extended.
Korea, Canada and India spoke in favour of extending it. Japan and the United States said it should lapse. ASEAN (through the Philippines) said they were not ready to state their position.
The Secretariat will prepare a factual note on this issue and the discussions will continue at the next meeting.
back to topElectronic commerce
The council began preparations to report on electronic commerce issues related to TRIPS to the General Council in July.
A representative of the described work in WIPO on electronic commerce and the separate but linked issue of intellectual property in digital form.
The TRIPS Council agreed that the Secretariat should compile information on TRIPS provisions relevant to electronic commerce, and on relevant activities in other international organizations. The issue will be discussed again at the next meeting.
back to topOther topics discussed
The council began preparations to report on trade facilitation to the Goods Council in March, again focusing on issues related to TRIPS.
Canada and the EU exchanged comment on their disputes in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ over pharmaceutical patents.
The EU and US said they were close to settling their dispute over Swedish enforcement legislation the US said it understands that under new Swedish law, from 1 January 1999 courts can authorize searches for pirated material and documents without having to give advance warning to the people suspected of piracy.
The next meeting will be in February.
If a developing country did not provide product patent protection in a particular area of technology when the TRIPS Agreement came into force (1 January 1995), it has up to 10 years to introduce the protection.
But for pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical products, the country must accept the filing of patent applications (provide a "mailbox") from the beginning of the transitional period, though the patent need not be granted until after the end of this period.
If the government allows the relevant pharmaceutical or agricultural chemical to be marketed during the transition period, it must subject to certain conditions provide an exclusive marketing right for the product for five years, or until a product patent is granted, whichever is shorter.
The TRIPS Agreement requires patent protection to last for at least 20 years from the time the application was filed.