A study case on coffee (Coffea arabica): Limu Coffe - IRD

7.1.1) Geographical Indications
The informational content of a GI name, symbol or word includes the following three
points: product name, the area of geographical origin of the product, and its given quality,
reputation or other characteristics that are essentially attributable to its area of geographical
origin (TRIPs Agreement, Article 22.1). Geographical indications are functionally similar to
trademarks but, as geographical names, they are descriptive and therefore unable to be
registered as trademarks unless they have acquired distinctiveness. The owner of a registered
GI has the exclusive right to prevent the use of geographical indications which mislead the
public as the true geographic origin of a designated good, or which constitutes an act of unfair
competition. GIs are seen as a form of collective monopoly right that erects entry barriers on
producers either within or outside the area. In sum, GIs define who can make a particular
product, where the product is to be made and what ingredients and techniques are to be used
so as to ensure authenticity and origin. European Regulation EEC 2081/92 conceives of two
categories of GIs:
- Protected Designations of Origin as names of a region, a specific place or, in
exceptional <strong>case</strong>s, a country, used to describe an agricultural product or a foodstuff where
particular quality or characteristics are essentially due to a particular geographical
environment with its inherent natural and human factors and the production, processing and
preparation takes place in the defined geographical area.
- Protected Geographical Indications as names of a region, a specific place or, in
exceptional <strong>case</strong>s, a country, used to describe an agricultural product or a foodstuff where a
specific quality, reputation or other characteristic is attributable to that geographical area of
origin and where production and/or processing and/or preparation takes place in the defined
geographical area.
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