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A geographical indication, which includes PDOs, PGIs, GIs and TSGs (see below), is an intellectual property right protecting the name of a product that has a certain geographical origin and owes its qualities or reputation to its particular origin. The aim of the geographical indication is to enable people to determine that the product originates from a given place and that the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product are essentially due to the place of origin.
In the European Union, protection as a geographical indication is reserved for the names of:
- craft and industrial products, ‘PGI’ only, managed by the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office)
- agricultural products and foodstuffs, wines (as ‘PDO’ or ‘PGI’) and spirit drinks (‘GI’ only), managed by the European Commission
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The Protected Designation of Origin
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A PDO identifies a product originating from a specific place, region or, in exceptional cases, country, whose:
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The Protected Geographical Indication
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A PGI identifies a product originating in a specific place, region or country, whose:
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The Traditional Speciality Guaranteed
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The TSG identifies a specific product or foodstuff:
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What products can be protected by a geographical indication?
Most geographical indications concern agricultural products (foodstuffs, wines, spirits), since these products often have qualities linked to their place of production and are also influenced by specific local geographical factors, such as climate or soil.
However, artisanal products made by hand using local natural resources and respecting traditions, or industrial products with specific qualities linked to human factors present in the geographical area of origin of the product, can also be protected by geographical indications.
What is the difference between a geographical indication and a trademark?
While geographical indications identify a product originating from a specific place, a trademark allows a product or service to be associated with a particular company.
A trademark often consists of a fantasy-inspired or arbitrary sign, but the name used as a protected geographical indication is generally predetermined by the name of a geographical region.
As a trademark is associated with a specific company and not a place, it can be transferred or licensed. Conversely, a geographical indication can be used by anyone who produces the product in the place of origin in accordance with the specifications. Because of this link with the place of origin, a geographical indication may not be transferred or licensed to anyone who is not in that geographical area or who does not belong to the group of producers authorised to use the geographical indication.
