Countries must protect their GIs –Al Qasimi
12 Apr 2005ABU DHABI – The First Geographical Indications Symposium in the Arab Region started its two-day activities Tuesday under the patronage of HE Sheikha Lubna Al-Qasimi, UAE’s Minister of Economy and Planning.
The event, organized by the Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP) and the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and supported by Middle East Partnership Initiative will be hosting experts in the fields of Intellectual Property, business and law.
Al Qasimi expressed her satisfaction of the idea of having the first symposium dealing with Geographical Indications.
“Countries must protect certain products that are identified exclusively by where they are produced or the processes by which they are made,” Al Qasimi said.
She added that the Arab countries have an extensive database of geographical indication and need to be protected.
“This is truly an important and interesting time to for the future of geographical indications as protection laws continue to be issued and developed,” she pointed out.
USPTO’s representative Susan Anthony said that geographical indications issue has always been an interest to the US government.
“Cooperation among countries concerning this issue is always appreciated and vital,” she added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in UAE, Richard Albright said that the US government believes that protection of GIs leads to an increase in the volume of trade.
“An excellent example is Jordan, which has joined the World Trade Organization in 2000 and benefited from the numerous agreements signed with the US,” he said.
“An excellent example is Jordan, which has joined the World Trade Organization in 2000 and benefited from the numerous agreements signed with the US,” he said.
“We are now working closely with the Saudi Arabia government to become a member of the WTO,” he added.
ASIP Chairman Talal Abu-Ghazaleh stressed that there is Geographical Indications protection in the Arab world.
“Many think that there is no protection in the Arab world but we do have laws for that and that is why we need to work hard on the process of protecting our heritage,” he said.
“We believe in working with the international community and in building bridges in a very constructive way and that Intellectual Property is good for us and for the economic development of our countries,” he added.
Algeria is one of only two Arab countries to join the Lisbon agreement. It joined in 1972 and followed by Tunisia in 1973.
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