This thesis explores the historical evolution of the nature of the link between a product and its place of origin in the European sui generis systems of GI protection, with a specific focus on the EU Regulation 1151/2012 on Geographical Indications for the protection of agricultural products and foodstuffs. It concludes that this link has substantively changed, since the 1930s, when some early forms of sui generis GI systems were introduced in southern Europe, especially in France and Italy. While these regimes were based exclusively on the concept of terroir, a cipher for the physical link between a product and a place, an empirical analysis carried out in the present work reveals that, today, the history of the product and of its method of production is, statistically, the predominant linking factor. Furthermore, the research shows that the historical link is almost always mentioned in the specifications of EU GI products, when protected both by Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), which are the two quality schemes provided by EU Law. In particular, the terroir element, which characterises PDOs, also appears frequently in PGI specifications, where it should be superfluous, thus suggesting that the differences between these two quality schemes are unclear. Finally, the emergence of the historical element confirms that GIs can contribute to the protection of products that are linked to a geographical area not by physical and environmental factors, but by the socio-cultural traditions of a specific place. Although history can constitute a valid product/link, however, it must be used with caution, as it can be mystified and reconstructed in an arbitrary and unfounded way. This is dangerous, because it can turn GIs into a mere marketing tool, thus damaging the origin function that distinguishes them from the broad family of quality labels.

Geographers have investigated agri-foods, commodity chains, 'alternative' food networks, 'local' production, and multicultural cuisine. However, the relationship between food, place, boundaries, environmental determinism, and authenticity remains under-researched. This thesis seeks to redress this deficiency with a detailed study of the construction of the Protected Food Names (PFN) scheme in the UK. PFNs are a type of Intellectual Property (IP) and form the European component of the international Geographical Indications (GI) system. These place-based foods and drinks originate from defined and bounded areas and are produced in supposedly traditional ways. Their manufacturers consider them unreplicable outside the protected zone. This qualitative investigation of three PFNs – Melton Mowbray Pork Pies, Stilton Cheese, and Grimsby Traditional Smoked Fish – critiques the ways in which ideas of place, boundaries, and authenticity are invoked by producers. The thesis interrogates how manufacturers understand place and its boundedness, employ supposedly 'objective' historical evidence, and apply the ambiguous notion of authenticity to stabilise and sustain local practices. The study also examines the strategies deployed to generate consumer interest in an era where uniqueness is an important marker of value. This work thus introduces a different conceptual angle to accounts of the PFN structure which primarily privilege legal or economistic assessments. It aims instead to deconstruct the geographical concepts on which the PFN edifice is based. The ultimate aim is to draw attention to the vagaries inherent in the increasingly hegemonic GI model. This research connects with geographical debates about the construction of place and boundaries, the social production of authenticity, the role of selective historical 'facts' in the development of narratives about place, and the 'selling' of location and its products. It therefore provides a lens through which the foundations and everyday operation of the GI system can be profitably analysed.

Global food production, supply chains, and food quality are coming under increasing scrutiny by consumers, environmentalists and governments. Particularly in developed countries, there is growing awareness among consumers about food origins and environmental practices. There are increasing concerns over animal welfare and protection and due to food scares in the late 1990’s, and more recently contamination issues from additives within supply chains and food borne illness outbreaks in Europe. It is no surprise then that food safety and traceability matters have become an issue of public and governmental concern. There is much debate currently about globalisation of the international trade of food commodities. There is also a growing awareness about and changing attitudes towards the provenance of consumers’ food sources. This dichotomy provides the background argument to this thesis. Europe has long been considered the home of finely crafted cheeses and this thesis aims to examine how the use of Geographical Indications (GI’s) by the European Union (EU) can influence New Zealand made speciality cheeses. The EU system of GI’s and the protection of specialised food and agricultural products has enabled companies to build strong reputations in the global marketplace and also within the internal market in order to charge premium prices for these protected products. The vast majority of the world’s GI foods are located in Europe. This thesis aims to argue that while there is not an official system for the control of labels of origin for the names of speciality cheeses in New Zealand, they are used nonetheless. These labels of location are used to denote certain qualities, production methods or guarantee and differ from standardised, commoditised cheeses. This thesis discusses the use of GI’s in the cheese industry as a way for New Zealand cheese producers to create product differentiation and as a means of communicating product quality through provenance branding. This thesis uses qualitative research methods to gauge industry opinion regarding the nature of the speciality cheese industry in New Zealand in order to better understand the reasons for naming speciality cheese products and how European cheeses have influenced them. Findings indicate that naming and influences for these products are varied and complex, but have been ultimately influenced by European cheeses. For New Zealand cheese companies GI’s are used as a means to differentiate products from competitors.

Magister Legum - LLM / A geographical indication (GI) is a sign by which a product is identified as having its origin in a particular territory and as having certain qualities, characteristics and a reputation, which are associated with that origin. There is currently no uniform international mechanism of protecting GIs, however, the framework for the protection of GIs is provided by Articles 22 to 24 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Article 23.1 provides a distinct advantage for the protection of wines and spirits as compared to the general protection of Article 22 for all other products. This thesis argues that a uniform system of protection for GIs should be established internationally, and that protection would be to the advantage of developing countries. The purpose of this study is to determine the best available method (i.e. trademark legislation or sui generis legislation) for protecting GIs for agricultural products of developing countries, through analysing the international legal framework governing the protection of GIs and the methods of national protection available as applied in Ethiopia, South Africa and India. The central argument advanced is that the use of trademarks should be a stepping stone, sui generis legislation is the ideal. Sui generis (separate) legislation should be drafted to fulfil the obligations of TRIPS and to ensure the extended protection, through national legislation, of all goods within other Member States. It is highly unlikely that the TRIPS Member States will agree to the extended protection of the Article 23. Therefore, the most suitable method to achieve such protection would be for Member States to extend their national protection through sui generis legislation.

This thesis presents an ethnography of the processes and practices through which Australian grape and wine producers attempt to produce, and to assess, quality and value in the materials with which they work. Drawing on participant observation research conducted within two wine companies in South Australia – one owned by a multinational beverage conglomerate, one a family-owned boutique winery – this thesis engages with three overarching questions, which engage with the concerns of agro-food studies and of social studies of markets. First, how – and with what economic effects – are the sensory qualities of materials made to matter within the Australian wine industry? Second, how do grape and wine producers pursue wine quality in a more-than-human world, and in what ways might their endeavours problematise extant theorisations of economic agency? Finally, what might be the consequences of Australian wine producers’ recent engagements with principles of grape and wine quality centred upon geographical origin? In response to these questions, this thesis explores time-reckoning and value production in viticultural practice, the pricing of winegrapes during a fungal disease epidemic, the commercial relationships convened through the production of large-volume mass-market wine blends, and Australian wine producers’ recent attempts to produce ‘wines from somewhere.’ These empirical engagements lead it to argue that the qualification and valuation practices deployed within the Australian wine industry do not simply affect the qualities and prices of grapes and wines. They also shape economic agencies and vulnerabilities, organise and value commercial relationships among grape growers and wine producers, and reassemble the economic geographies of Australian grape production. This thesis concludes that because different ways of pursuing quality enact these phenomena in different ways, much may depend not only upon how successfully, but also upon how – through what techniques, practices, and associations – quality is pursued.

No description available.

The new territoriality is, in a geographic area, the socio-cultural interaction determined by present or past affinities, which gives it a distinct identity. Thus, this concept has now become an important subject of study in the social sciences, as well as an object of public policies that aims at designing strategies for development from territorial specificities. Taking into account market environments that offer a very high value differentiated products, these strategies are based on benchmarks of marked quality and able to produce goods that can be recognized in various areas of consumption. For this, the mobilization of social networks seeks to produce and disseminate 'recognition devices'. These are already long-term used in European countries and such devices have gained notoriety recently in Brazil through the granting of Geographical Indication (IG), in two forms: a Statement of Origin (IP) and Designation of Origin (DO). This study aimed to identify the experiences of Geographical Indication recognized in the RS, the IPs of the Valley of the Vineyards and the Pampa Gaúcho in the Southern Campanha, which took key elements in the consolidation of territorial identity manifest in the label indication of origin, contrasting their obstacles, challenges and processes adopted for the achievement and maintenance of the IG and the main impacts arising in their respective territories, with a view to the notion of territorial development. Methodologically, we proceeded with a rescue of material available on secondary sources and visits to the regions in focus for conducting semistructured interviews with key informants. The results were focused on the collection of the general characteristics of each experience, covering their peculiarities and contexts in which they occurred, the difficulties encountered in obtaining the registration of IGs, the most relevant results generated within the territory, and the problems and barriers to current and future maintenance of their IGs, ending with a comparison between the elements found. The experience of IP in the Valley of the Vineyards is nearly a territorial development strategy, since the economic goals led to the creation of a territorial marketing projection abroad, we attract an increasing flow of tourists the place and the social goals led to the (re) construction and promotion of local identity in the local community, to strengthen the sense of community, increase the confidence of the actors on the economic value of local culture, reflecting in large sectors of the territory. Moreover, the experience of IP Pampa Gaúcho da Campanha Meridional seems to have reached sufficient evidence enabling a process of territorial development based on the strategy of the IG, given its character still restricted to the sector in social and within the economic territory. The strategies for using recognition devices can provide the goods, services and agri-food basic territorial competitiveness and greater ability to integrate into differentiated items within the market, it may fulfill the characteristics of segmentation of consumption, as it is presented today, favorably produced to territorial development in the country. / As novas territorialidades representam, em um espaço geográfico, a interação sócio-cultural determinada por afinidades, presentes ou passadas, que conferem-lhe uma identidade própria. Assim, tal noção tornou-se atualmente uma importante temática de estudos nas ciências sociais, bem como objeto das políticas públicas que buscam traçar estratégias de desenvolvimento a partir de especificidades territoriais. Levando em conta ambientes de mercado que valorizam sobremaneira a oferta de produtos diferenciados, estas estratégias baseiam-se em referenciais de qualidade demarcados e capazes de produzir bens passíveis de serem reconhecidos em diversos âmbitos do consumo. Para tanto, recorrem a mobilizações de redes sociais que buscam produzir e difundir dispositivos de reconhecimento . De longa data já utilizados nos países Europeus, tais dispositivos ganharam notoriedade recentemente no Brasil através da concessão de Indicação Geográfica(IG), que se apresenta em duas modalidades: a Indicação de Procedência(IP) e a Denominação de Origem(DO). Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar nas experiências de Indicação Geográfica reconhecidas no RS, as IPs do Vale dos Vinhedos e do Pampa Gaúcho da Campanha Meridional, quais elementos assumiram papel fundamental na consolidação da identidade territorial manifesta no selo de Indicação de Procedência, contrastando os seus obstáculos, desafios e processos adotados para a obtenção e manutenção da IG, bem como os principais impactos gerados nos seus respectivos territórios, com vistas à noção de desenvolvimento territorial. Metodologicamente, procedeu-se um resgate do material disponível em fontes secundárias, bem como visitas às regiões em foco para realização de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com informantes-chaves. Os resultados focaram-se no levantamento das características gerais de cada experiência, abordando as respectivas peculiaridades e contextos em que estas ocorreram; as dificuldades encontradas para obtenção do registro das IGs; os impactos mais relevantes gerados no território; e os problemas e entraves para a manutenção atual e futura das respectivas IGs, finalizando com um comparativo entre os elementos encontrados. O estudo apontou que a experiência da IP Vale dos Vinhedos aproxima-se do que pode ser considerado uma estratégia de desenvolvimento territorial, posto que os objetivos econômicos levaram à criação de um marketing territorial de projeção para o exterior, conseguindo atrair um fluxo crescente de turistas ao lugar e os objetivos sociais levaram à (re)construção e promoção da identidade territorial na comunidade local, com o sentido de reforçar o sentido de comunidade, aumentar a confiança dos atores no valor econômico da cultura local, repercutindo em amplos setores do território. Por outro lado, a experiência da IP Pampa Gaúcho da Campanha Meridional parece não ter alcançado elementos suficientes que indiquem estar viabilizando um processo de desenvolvimento territorial a partir da estratégia das IGs, dado o seu caráter ainda eminentemente setorial, com alcance demasiado restrito em termos sociais e econômicos no âmbito do território. Reforça-se, no entanto, com base nestas experiências, que as estratégias de uso de dispositivos de reconhecimento podem conferir aos bens, serviços e produtos agroalimentares de base territorial maior competitividade e possibilidade de inserção diferenciada no âmbito do mercado, pois podem corresponder às características de segmentação do consumo, tão presentes na atualidade, produzindo conjuntura favorável ao desenvolvimento territorial no país.

Estudio de caso para optar al grado de magíster en Estrategia Internacional y Política Comercial. / Las Indicaciones Geográficas son activos intangibles que otorgan valor a un producto con características únicas derivadas de su lugar de origen. Estos productos son altamente cotizados en mercados internacionales, ya que actualmente, consumidores adquieren productos que certifiquen su calidad, reputación y origen. En el caso de Chile, no existe una sensibilización acerca de la importancia de estos Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual, sólo existen 12 productos registrados. El Limón de Pica fue el primer producto en obtener esta certificación en el año 2010. Este estudio da a conocer los principales motivos de un grupo de productores para obtener la Indicación Geográfica del Limón de Pica, y determinar los efectos que esta obtención trajo al desarrollo de la localidad de Pica. Se entrega información acerca del trabajo que realizaron productores, el sector público y privado para obtener el registro y, posteriormente, para posicionar al Limón de Pica en el mercado nacional e internacional. Siete años después de obtener el registro, factores cómo el desconocimiento acerca del tema, la falta de asociatividad entre productores y los proyectos a corto plazo, han impedido su utilización. El sector público les ha dado un gran apoyo para sacar adelante su Indicación Geográfica, pero parecen no responder a las verdaderas necesidades de los actores. / Geographical Indications are intangible assets that add value to a product with unique characteristics deriving from their geographical origin. These products are highly valued in international markets and, nowadays, consumers mainly acquire certified products that protect their quality, reputation and origin. In the Chilean case, there is a need to increase awareness about the importance of Intellectual Property Rights, specially about Geographical Indications. There are only 12 products registered in Chile and Limón de Pica was the first product that obtained this certification in 2010. This investigation shows the main reasons why a group of people obtained Limón de Pica Geographical Indication, and it determines its effects on the local development of Pica. This investigation also gives information regarding how farmers, and the public and private sector worked to obtain this certification and to promote Limón de Pica in both national and international markets. Seven years have passed since they received the certification, but elements such as lack of knowledge, lack of cooperative work and short-time projects, have hindered its use. The public sector has provided them with a great support to develop their Geographical Indication, but it seems that they have not been able to fulfill farmers’ true needs.

No atual contexto econômico da empresa agrária, em que os produtos da atividade econômica, sejam eles animais ou vegetais, são tratados como verdadeiras commodities, ou seja, bens absolutamente fungíveis, cujo valor de comercialização é determinado em bolsas de mercadorias & futuro, as indicações geográficas ganham cada vez mais importância econômica quanto ao empresário rural, por tratar-se de uma importante ferramenta de diferenciação no mercado, permitindo que se agregue valor aos produtos agrícolas. A presente dissertação visa o estudo dos principais aspectos relativos às indicações geográficas, como a sua natureza jurídica, titularidade, extensão da proteção, procedimento de registro, comparando-as a institutos análogos, especialmente as marcas coletivas e de certificação, como maneira de permitir uma melhor compreensão do instituto e de ressaltar a possibilidade do seu uso como instrumento de desenvolvimento agrário no Brasil. Para tanto, pretende-se fazer um estudo sobre a evolução história do instituto, especialmente sobre a crescente proteção das indicações geográficas, através dos acordos internacionais, iniciados com a Convenção da União de Paris CUP, passando pelos Acordos de Madrid, Lisboa e acordo TRIPS (sigla em inglês da expressão Aspectos dos Direitos da Propriedade Intelectual relacionados ao Comércio). Estuda-se, com este trabalho, a evolução da proteção às indicações geográficas no país, culminando com a proteção prevista na Lei nº 9.279/96 (Lei da Propriedade Industrial), e os procedimentos para o registro destas perante o Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial INPI. Visa-se, ainda, tecer algumas críticas que se fazem necessárias à falta de uma melhor normatização das indicações geográficas na Lei da Propriedade Industrial. Por fim, o trabalho tem como objetivo contribuir para a consolidação da proteção e divulgação da importância das indicações geográficas no atual contexto brasileiro, permitindo e incentivando seu desenvolvimento pelos produtores brasileiros. / The products of the present day agricultural enterprise, be they animal or crops are traded on the world markets like any other commodity, that is to say, they are fungible goods whose value is determined solely on the world commodity exchanges and futures markets. In this context, the geographical indications take on an increasing significance to the agrarian businessman in that they allow those agricultural products to be distinguished from the standard commodities and thus enable them to command a premium price. This dissertation aims the study the main aspects of the geographical indications, such as their legal nature, where ownership lies, the extent of their legal protection, registration procedures, and to compare them with similar concepts, such as: collective trademarks and certification marks. The objective being to understand the importance of the principle better and demonstrate its possible use as a means of further agricultural development in Brazil. The intention is to study the historical evolution of the concept of geographical indications, particularly regarding the growing protection of geographical indications through international treaties such as the Paris Convention, the Madrid and Lisbon agreements and the TRIPS (Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights) accord. The evolution of Brazilian legislation protecting geographical indications will be considered, this legislation culminating with the protection embodied in Law No. 9279/96 (Industrial Property Law) and the procedures for registration of geographical indications with the National Institute for Industrial Property Rights. It is also my intention to analyse critically the lack of more precise rules governing geographical indications within the Industrial Property Law. Finally, this paper tries to contribute to the understanding of the importance of geographical indications to Brazil at present and to consolidate a means of protecting their integrity, in this way allowing and encouraging the development of new geographical indications for Brazilian producers.

Pirmoji tarptautinė sutartis, be kitų nuostatų įtvirtinanti ir minimalius geografinių ir kilmės vietos nuorodų teisinės apsaugos standartus – Paryžiaus konvencija dėl pramoninės nuosavybės apsaugos - buvo priimta dar 1883 metais, tačiau šis netradicinis intelektinės nuosavybės objektas ilgą laiką nesulaukė didesnio pasaulinio susidomėjimo, o geografinių nuorodų apsaugos teikiama nauda buvo nepelnytai nuvertinama. Geografinių nuorodų teisinės apsaugos atgimimas yra siejamas su 1994 m. Pasaulio prekybos organizacijos Sutarties dėl intelektinės nuosavybės teisių aspektų, susijusių su prekyba (TRIPS) įsigaliojimu. Pagaliau buvo suvoktos didelės geografinių nuorodų panaudojimo komercinėje veikloje galimybės. Europos Sąjunga bei ją palaikančios besivystančios valstybės ėmėsi iniciatyvos kiek įmanoma stiprinti tradicinių vietovardžių teisinę apsaugą. Vis dėlto Lietuvai šis teisės institutas yra gana naujas, todėl kol kas nėra daug praktikos šiuo klausimu, o ir esanti negausi praktika yra nevienareikšmiška. Būdingas geografinių nuorodų teisinės apsaugos bruožas yra itin didelė šio intelektinės nuosavybės objekto apsaugos koncepcijų įvairovė. Geografinių nuorodų apsaugai nacionaliniu ir regioniniu lygmeniu gali būti taikomos labai skirtingos teisinės apsaugos sistemos: pradedant sui generis registruotų geografinių nuorodų ir kilmės vietos nuorodų apsauga, apsauga pagal kovą su nesąžininga konkurencija reglamentuojančius teisės aktus, baigiant geografinių nuorodų apsauga pagal prekių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The first international agreement inter alia establishing minimum standards for protections of geographical indications and designations of origin – the Paris Convention for Protection of Industrial Property - was adopted in 1883. However, for quite a long time geographical indications were considered to be the kind of intellectual property that nobody really understood and the advantage of their protection was wantonly depreciated. The resurgence of legal protection of geographical indications is considered to be a result of coming into force of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Law (TRIPS) of 1994. Since then the possibilities of using the protection of geographical indications in commercial activity were finally realized. Therefore, European Union as well as developing countries took the initiative to strengthen the protection of traditional geographical names. Nonetheless, this institute is rather new for Lithuania. That is why there is almost no case law on this issue. The distinctive feature of protection of geographical indication is that there is a big variety of concepts for their protection. Various forms of protection of geographical indications might be used on international and national level: starting with sui generis protection of registered geographical indications and designations of origin as well as protections under laws on fair competition and ending with protection based on existing trademark registration systems. Taking... [to full text]