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Why the Need to Consider GIs in the South?

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Developing Geographical Indications in the South

Abstract

In thinking of geographical indications (GIs) in the South, this chapter reflects on why GIs are of relevance to Southern countries. The discussion traces the contours of the international GI debate and how the TRIPS agreement has introduced the GI concept in Southern countries, by requiring that all WTO Members provide minimum standards of protection for GIs within their territories. Introducing GIs as a universal concept, the discussion proceeds to reflect on how the dynamics associated with GIs hold significant potential for Southern countries with their rich heritage of traditional products rooted in localised production. By exploring the potential role of GIs for enhancing market access while promoting rural and sustainable development and aiding the preservation of biodiversity and traditional knowledge, the chapter shows how the relevance of GIs for Southern countries extend beyond compliance with international legal obligations to include significant potential for unleashing beneficial local dynamics in Southern territories.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of 1883.

  2. 2.

    Madrid Agreement for the Repression of False or Deceptive Indications of Source on Goods of 1891.

  3. 3.

    Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration of 1958.

  4. 4.

    Art. 22.1.

  5. 5.

    Art. 24.9.

  6. 6.

    TRIPS Council, ‘Report by the Chairman to the Trade Negotiations Committee’, 21 April 2011 (TN/IP/21).

  7. 7.

    Art.5.9.

  8. 8.

    See WT/GC/W/547, TN/C/W/26, TN/IP/W/11, 14 June 2005.

  9. 9.

    See TN/IP/W/10 of 1 April 2005.

  10. 10.

    The United States together with Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei.

  11. 11.

    See TN/IP/W/8 of 23 of April of 2004.

  12. 12.

    Clawback is a term which is used to refer to the EU initiative to claim back terms which have become generic in WTO member countries, notably through a proposal in the WTO Agriculture Committee and not the TRIPS Council. See WTO Doc. JOB(03)112.

  13. 13.

    These categories of goods have been defined by Nelson (1970). Experience goods are goods for which consumers can determine quality only after purchase through use and experience. Credence goods are products for which neither inspection nor use by the consumer enables an effective assessment of quality.

  14. 14.

    See the preamble to EU Regulation 510/2006.

  15. 15.

    This definition is in French in the original document: "Un terroir est un espace géographique délimité défini à partir d'une communauté humaine qui construit au cours de son histoire un ensemble de traits culturels distinctifs, de savoirs et de pratiques, fondés sur un système d'interaction entre le milieu naturel et les facteurs humains. Les savoir-faire mis en jeu révèlent une originalité, confèrent une typicité et permettent une reconnaissance pour les produits ou services originaires de cet espace et donc pour les hommes qui y vivent." The English translation was found in Bérard and Marchenay (2008: 17–18).

  16. 16.

    Art. 8.j.

  17. 17.

    It is worth noting however that the incorporation of specific traditional knowledge based practices in the specification results in placing this knowledge in the public domain, thereby preventing its private appropriation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Cerkia Bramley

  2. French Research Centre on Agriculture for Development (CIRAD), UMR Innovation, Montpellier, France

    Estelle Biénabe

Authors
  1. Cerkia Bramley
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  2. Estelle Biénabe
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Correspondence to Cerkia Bramley .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department Agricultural Economics, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa

    Cerkia Bramley

  2. , Direction Générale Déléguée, French Research Centre on Agriculture, Avenue Agropolis TA 179 04, Montpellier cedex 5, 34398, France

    Estelle Bienabe

  3. , Department Agricultural Economics, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa

    Johann Kirsten

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Bramley, C., Biénabe, E. (2013). Why the Need to Consider GIs in the South?. In: Bramley, C., Bienabe, E., Kirsten, J. (eds) Developing Geographical Indications in the South. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6748-5_1

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