On March 1, the State Intellectual Property Office issued an announcement, approving the implementation of geographical indication protection for EU products such as Cyprus Meretrix wine. The first batch of mutual recognition and mutual protection list products recommended by the European Commission, such as Cyprus Meretrix wine, Czech budeyovitch beer, Munich beer, Danish blue cheese, Irish whisky, fida cheese, kava, yawenyi, tokay wine and Modena vinegar, enjoy high level protection in China under the China EU geographical indication agreement, which is the implementation of the China EU geographical indication agreement It is also an important measure of the implementation of the draft.
Previously, the European Commission issued a communique on February 9, confirming that the China EU agreement on geographical indications will enter into force in the EU on March 1, and the first batch of 100 Chinese products will also be protected by geographical indications throughout the EU. Up to now, China and the EU have achieved 110 Chinese geographical indications protection in Europe and 134 European geographical indications protection in China through separate application, mutual recognition pilot and mutual agreement. The State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) issued a notice on the identification of geographical indications, marking a solid step in the implementation of the China EU agreement on geographical indications.
Photo source: EU website announcement
In the next four years, China and the EU will jointly promote the technical preparation for the second batch of "175 + 175" China EU list products mutual recognition and mutual insurance. The State Intellectual Property Office will do a good job in the acceptance, technical review and identification of the second batch of European geographical indication products, and promote more high-quality geographical indication products of China and the European Union to be protected by both sides and recognized by consumers and the market.
For the first time in international cooperation, the geographical indications included in the China EU agreement on geographical indications enjoy a high level of protection and can use the official geographical indications of the other party. The State Intellectual Property Office will strengthen publicity and promotion to promote the understanding and application of the China EU agreement on geographical indications, and further promote the import and export of geographical indication products from both sides. The State Intellectual Property Office will guide all localities to make full use of the agreement bonus, strictly regulate the use of official signs, and strengthen the overseas protection of geographical indications in China. At the same time, the State Intellectual Property Office will implement the "same protection" requirement of intellectual property rights, study to provide high-quality services for foreign investors, guide and encourage EU geographical indication distributors in China to voluntarily use the special geographical indication of the people's Republic of China, and improve the annual reporting system of foreign geographical indication products.
In the next step, the State Intellectual Property Office will work with relevant parties to further improve the protection system of geographical indications, deepen the reform of geographical indications management, and promote the high-level protection, high-standard management, and high-quality development of geographical indications. In particular, we should implement the strategic plan of the central government to comprehensively strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights, severely crack down on the infringement and counterfeiting of geographical indications, focus on the illegal acts of counterfeiting geographical indications, and strictly supervise the production of geographical indications not in accordance with the law through free translation, transliteration, literal translation or labeling of "type", "variety", "style" and "imitation" of geographical indications We should regulate the illegal activities of standard production, effectively prevent the counterfeiting of geographical indication products, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of various market entities.