ASIP and USPTO Present First Geographical Indications Symposium in the Arab Region
31 Mar 2005ABU DHABI – The Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will hold the first Geographical Indications Symposium in the Arab region at Beach Rotana Hotel in Abu Dhabi from April 12-13, 2005.
The specialty of this Symposium comes from the fact that it is the first international platform to discuss geographical indications in the Arab world.
“There are numerous products in the Arab world that have an international reputation, such as the olive oil soap from Nablus, water from al Feejah spring in Syria, and several alcoholic drinks from Lebanon. Protection of these products is essential to protect their reputation and contribute to the preservation of their quality,” said Charles Sha’ban, executive director of Abu-Ghazaleh for Intellectual Property’s regional office, and member of ASIP.
The Symposium, held under the patronage of the United Arab Emirates Minister of Economy and Planning, HE Sheikha Lubna Al-Qasimi, will focus on several key issues concerning the protection of geographical indications in the Arab countries, and will present case studies from Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and the USA.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) defines geographical indications, a field acquiring increasing attention lately, as a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that place of origin.
The importance of the protection of geographical indications comes from the fact that the false use of them by unauthorized parties is detrimental to consumers and legitimate producers, as it would jeopardize the reputation of the product and the place of its origin.
The Symposium, supported by the Middle East Program Initiative (MEPI), will shed light on this important topic, and will act as both a showcase and a critical forum on all aspects of the benefits generated from geographical indications protection.
The importance of this Symposium comes from the relative newness of its topic in the Arab world, as geographical indications are not fully protected there.
“Some Arab countries, like Jordan, actually do have laws protecting geographical indications, yet the applications of these laws are not really clear, thus hindering the protection of these indications,” Sha’ban pointed out.
The sessions will feature presentations by a number of recognized professionals in this field including Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, ASIP chairman; Ms. Susan Anthony, USPTO representative; Mr. Samer Pharaon, Abu-Ghazaleh Legal Services (ABLE) executive director; and Dr. Fadi Makki, general director of the General Directorate of Economy and Trade in Lebanon.
Speakers will start by introducing and clarifying the concept of geographical indications and will then move to tackle various important relevant subjects such as the international framework for the protection of geographical indications and trademarks, trademark protection for geographical indications, the need for this protection in business and economy, and the protection of geographical indications in the Arab countries.
The event will be attended by leading Arab firms, as well as regional and international governmental representatives, and decision makers.
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