The EU and China signed an Agreement on the protection of Geographical indication

The European Union and China signed the long waiting EU-China Agreement on Cooperation on, and Protection of, Geographical Indications.

In 2007 an initial pilot agreement allowed registration of 10 GIs from both sides.

Now each side will acknowledge the protection of 100 GIs on its territory.

The current agreement covers different aspects of geographical indication protection such as its scope, the right to use, the relationship with trademarks etc.

However, some important moments are still remaining in the gray area. For example, enforcements of rights over geographical indications will be subject only to appropriate actions of the respective authorities.

Another controversial point is when one GI can be revoke on account of genericness.

Source: Marquess Class 46.

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