WIPO Symposium on Geographical Indications Wraps Up in Bangkok

The biennial World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Worldwide Symposium on Geographical Indications wrapped up today in Bangkok, Thailand. The 2013 Symposium was hosted by the Thailand Department of Intellectual Property.

The two-day Symposium featured eight educational sessions with over thirty speakers from across the world discussing issues related to the protection and enforcement of geographical indications, including appellations of origin for wine, and the mechanisms and procedures for such protection and enforcement in numerous countries. Presentations included the experiences of various regions known for the production of different goods including Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese from Italy, Scotch Whisky from Scotland, Malaysian pepper, and Napa Valley wine from the U.S.

The Symposium also featured an exhibition of GI products from Thailand and other countries which featured various fruits, coffee, cheese, wine and handicrafts, including a live demonstration of the historic method of production of the silk threads used to make Thai silk.

The Symposium was attended by over 400 participants and was opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand. The Symposium serves as an invaluable forum for the exchange of information and ideas related to the protection of appellations worldwide and the promotion of agricultural products, such as wine.

Scott Gerien of Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty was an invited speaker and presented on the issue of use of geographical indications alongside trademarks and the Napa Valley story in developing a recognized brand in an appellation of origin.

More information on the Symposium can be found at the WIPO web site:

http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/2013/wipo_geo_bkk_13/index.html