EU, U.S. Officials Clash Over Adequacy Of Trademarks In Protecting GIs

摘要

U.S. and European Union trade officials this week squared off over EU claims that the U.S. trademark system provides inadequate protection for "geographical indications" (GIs), which Brussels has raised when pressing for other means to protect GIs under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). George York, lead U.S. negotiator on intellectual property (IP) issues in TTIP, fought back in a March 18 public forum in Washington against each of the three main points made by the EU for why the trademark system is a bad solution for GI right holders in Europe.