Geographical indications

WIPO administers the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, which Switzerland acceded to in 2021. Beneficiaries of geographical indications can now obtain increased protection in the contracting parties through a single, simple and inexpensive notification procedure.
WIPO's Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications is responsible for facilitating and coordinating the development of international law on geographical indications. Every two years, WIPO also organises an international symposium to discuss the use and protection of geographical indications.

 

 

Protection of appellations of origin and geographical indications under the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement

WIPO also administers the Lisbon Agreement (1958) for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration, of which Switzerland is not a member state, as well as the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications (PDF) (2015), which Switzerland acceded to in 2021. These treaties establish an international register of appellations of origin and geographical indications and prescribe a high level of protection. The Geneva Act entered into force on 26 February 2020.


On 18 August 2021, the Federal Council approved the entry into force of the Geneva Act and the amendment of the implementing ordinances, with effect from 1 December 2021. This accession will permit beneficiaries of Swiss appellations of origin and geographical indications to obtain protection abroad through a single, simple and inexpensive procedure.

 

Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT)

At WIPO, the SCT is responsible for normative work at international level, particularly in the field of geographical indications. The SCT also encourages the harmonisation of national laws.
Switzerland is actively involved in the work of this committee, particularly in its information sessions on geographical indications.

 

Worldwide Symposium on Geographical Indications

Every two years, WIPO organises a Worldwide Symposium on Geographical Indications, which brings together representatives of the member states, producers of products protected by geographical indications and experts in the field.    
The purpose of this forum is to discuss the use and protection of geographical indications and to exchange analyses and technical information relating to recent developments in the field.

 

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