Protection of Geographical Origins
Subject matter
Geographical indications are designations that identify goods as originating from a specific region or place, where a particular quality, reputation, or other characteristic of the goods is essentially based on their geographical origin (e.g., "Nuremberg gingerbread" or "Solingen" for knives). Unlike individual trademarks, they do not serve to identify a single company but are available to all manufacturers from that region.Proceedings
Associations can register geographical indications as collective marks. This ensures that only members who adhere to specific quality standards and the geographical origin are permitted to use the mark.The most important aspect of geographical indications in trademark law is protection against deception. It is prohibited to use geographical indications for goods or services that do not originate from the named location if this creates a risk of misleading consumers about the origin.
