Protection Norms of Indications of Geographical Origin in the Applicable EU Regulations - Recent Changes and the Necessity for Further Unification

摘要

After the new Regulations were adopted in the years 2006-2009, substantial changes were introduced in the sphere of protection of registered indications of geographical origin1 (IGOs) in European Union (EU) law. These changes involved both the introduction of uniform protection norms regarding registered, or to be registered, IGOs for agricultural products and foodstuffs, including spirits and wine sector products, and amending of the existing regulations for registered IGOs with respect to these products. This publication deals with analysis of protection norms of registered IGOs from the perspective of the applicable Regulations, including the acquisition and loss of protection of IGOs envisaged by the applicable Regulations. It shall be noted that this article was written in consideration that there is still little literature regarding protection norms of these Regulations,2 especially from the point of view of uniform protection norms contained in the recently adopted applicable Regulations.