Andrea Zappalaglio: The Transformation of EU Geographical Indications Law: The Present, Past and Future of the Origin Link

摘要

This book addresses the evolving nature of EU sui generis geographical indications (hereinafter GIs) by focusing on their link to origin, which represents the foundations of the entire GI system. Indeed, a GI is a sign identifying a product as originating in a given place with specific qualities, characteristics or reputation, carefully described in the product specifications. Since said qualities, characteristics or reputation depend essentially or exclusively on the geographical origin, there is a clear link between the product and its original place of production. The book is composed of six chapters divided into three parts, each of which explores the link to origin from different perspectives. The first part provides a historical and comparative analysis of the systems of protection of Indications of Geographical Origin adopted in the European jurisdictions from the beginning of the 20th century, with detailed research on the roots of Protected Denominations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications (hereinafter PDOs and PGIs), the two main links to origin defined by EU GI laws. The second part analyses how the EU GI system has evolved from its introduction in 1992 until now. The research conducted through the empirical analysis of the trends emerging from the EU GI registration practice suggests that the history of the product has become a major factor to prove the link between a product and a specific place. The third and last part enters the policy debate by focusing on the role of the historical element in the future of the system. The idea is to understand how the historical element, also taking into consideration non-agricultural products, can be used for the fulfilment of the general goals of the EU Common Agricultural Policy.