Over the last few years, the phenomenon of Geographical Indications (GIs) has stimulated increased interest in the USA. As producers and consumers become familiar with and appreciate the benefits derived from GIs, promoted a debate on American products, with the contribution of relevant public and private stakeholders as well as academic circles.
In this context, in March 2010 published – in collaboration with eminent American experts – a manual “American Products: Protecting a Legacy”. The manual focuses on the socio-economic implications of GIs in the US as well as on the adjustments the current legal framework would require for the American GI business to fully deploy its potential.
Following the publication of the manual, an interesting debate among stakeholders is being held. Please find below the most important elements of such debate.
- 31/10/2024-The United States Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit affirms crucial principles for the protection of certification marks in the USA.
- 31/05/2024-Strategy to transform America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production
- 21/05/2024-oriGIn sees potential synergies between 2024 Farm Bill priorities – in particular the ones related to the need to ensure the fair remuneration of farmers – and the GI rural impact potential
- 28/04/2022- oriGIn Press release: oriGIn promotes a debate on adequate instruments for American farmers to protect the authenticity of their products and sound strategies for the sustainable development of rural communities in a post-covid scenario
- 21/03/2022-Recognition of the San Luis Obispo Coast as an American Viticultural Area (AVA)
- 10/02/2022- Distinctive products of the United States have been recognized in Japan
- 16/07/2021 – Willamette Valley wines is now a “Protected Geographical Indication” in the EU
- 13/12/2019 – Signature of the USMCA trade pact (US, Mexico, Canada) and implications for GIs
- 18/07/2019 – Increase in awareness in the United States as to the importance of geographical origin
- 18/02/2019 – The US and the UK signed two agreements covering wine and distilled spirits
- 01/02/2019 – USMCA: “Bourbon whiskey” and “Tennessee whiskey” in favor to end retaliatory tariffs and approve the free trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the USA
- 17/01/2019 – Update on EU agreements in force (or under negotiations) covering GIs, see oriGIn Study
- 23/10/2018 – GI face-off – debating current geographical indication protections, By Massimo Vittori and Shawna Morris (World Trademark Review)
- 22/10/2018 – USMCA: The new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) contains a chapter on GIs
- 30/06/2018 – Dahlonega Plateau : a new American Viticultural Area established at the federal level
- 05/03/2018 – New Poll Shows Broad Support For Laws To Protect Against Misleading Wine Labels (Wine origins Alliance)
- 22/11/2017 – Europe eats Trump’s lunch, POLITICO
- 30/05/2017 – USA: local food and fair advertising practices
- 01/03/2017 – US Agriculture and Local Food
- 01/03/2017 – “Tequila” can now be registered as certification mark in the U.S.
- 20/01/2017 – 2015 Local Food Marketing Practices Survey, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- 13/07/2016 – oriGIn follows closely the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations
- 13/06/2016 – U.S. vintners fracture over TTIP wine debate
- 02/05/2016 – TTIP recent leaks and GIs
- 25/04/2016 – Proposal from the United States of America to the Standing Committee on Trademarks, Geographical Indications and Industrial Designs (SCT) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) – Work Plan for Exploring the Feasibility of a Geographical Indications Filing System
- 04/04/2016 – New Markets, New Opportunities: Strengthening Local Food Systems and Organic Agriculture
- 21/03/2016 – The EU concept paper on Geographical Indications (GIs) in the EU-U.S. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership . The EU proposal – Text outline for GIs . Annex I: list of foodstuffs. Annex II: list of spirit names
- 14/03/2016 – TTIP & GIs from the point of view of consumers: transparency v. misleading practices, EU Parliament
- 24/02/2016 – Video interview with Massimo Vittori on GIs in the #TPP and #TTIP
- 24/02/2016 – Press release: American and European producers in favor of ambitious GIs provisions in the T-TIP
- 19/01/2016 – Three Napa Valley Producers Agree to Give Up Use of Name ‘Port’ on Wine Labels
- 11/12/2015 – “ITALIAN SOUNDING”: TWO THIRDS OF USA CONSUMERS DECEIVED. A NEW BATTLE FOR THE CONSORTIUM
- 26/11/2015 – Letter to Mr. John Lom, Director, International Division, The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on “Commercialization in the United States of a product denominated “Prosecco Doc” Annex1 – Annex2
- 06/10/2015 – Analysis of the Relevant US Legislation for the Protection of GIs & Recommendations for Compromise Solutions on GIs in the TTIP Negotiations
- 15/07/2015 – Press Release: U.S. and EU Producers Seek Pragmatic Solutions to GIs Issues in the T-TIP
- 07/07/2015 – Press Release: The Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement represents an Historic Opportunity for GIs
- 21/04/2015 – GIs and Sustainable Development, Luncheon presentation, Washington DC
- 09/03/2015 – Press release: Consolidates Its Presence in the United States (U.S.)
- 05/02/2015 – Press release: oriGIn hapes the debate over T-TIP with evidence on Geographical Indications’ crucial role in creating jobs and protecting consumers
- 17/11/2014 – The GI chapter in the T-TIP is an opportunity in terms of jobs, growth and sustainable development for vibrant rural communities
- 20/05/2014 – oriGIn meeting in Washington, DC on “The TTIP: Expectations of GI producers from the two sides of the Atlantic”
- 11/02/2014 – A State Dinner all based on American products
- 2014-2015 – Series of Panel Discussions: “American Products and the TTIP: Collaboration for Rural Development”
- 19/09/2013 – A step forward for the protection of Gruyère
- 12/09/2013 – Napa Valley Earns Name Protection in Australia and Taiwan
- 2013 – oriGIn comments to the USPTO Draft Examination Guide for Geographic Certification Marks
- 2013 – Draft version of the USPTO examination guide on geographic certification marks
- 19/04/2013 – Press release: “With the publication of a list of candidate U.S. GIs nurtures the international debate”
- 2013 – oriGIn paper on “Geographical Indications in the United States:Developing a Preliminary List of Qualifying Product Names”
- 2012 – The Protection of European PDO/PGI in the US: Major Issues Faced by Members
- 10/10/2012 – Vote for the Dinner Party (The New York Times)
- 10/11/2012 – Napa Valley First International Wine Region to Receive Landmark Protection in China
- 28/06/2012 – Paper on “Criteria for U.S. Geographic Indications” Tara Capsuto, Berkeley Law, May 6, 2012
- 22/05/2012 – Napa Vintners Achieve Landmark Recognition in Canada
- 04/05/2012 – EMMI abandons its project to produce “Gruyère” in the USA
- 02/05/2012 – Napa Valley Vintners Joins Prominent International Network of Geographic Indications (Reuters)
- 02/05/2012 – The New Frontier for Geographical Indications: the Napa Valley Vintners joins the global alliance of geographical indications producers
- 10/04/2012 – Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) – announced that Brazil has recognized Napa Valley with Geographical Indication (GI) status
- 30/01/2012 – The USPTO: Encouraging step towards better protection of marks certifying geographical
- 28/06/2012 – Award in cooperation with the Berkeley School of Law
- 2011- The American Product Association is shaping-up
- 2011 – A Study Of American Wine Consumers- National Online Survey – Fall 2011
- 2010 – Kona Coffee: The “Coffee Disclosure Bill”
- 2010 – California: news from the battle for the authenticity of “Kona Coffee”
- 23/10/2010 – Kona Coffee received the prestigious Parmigiano-Reggiano International Award
- 01-03/06/2010 – Presentation of the AOP handbook in Washington DC
- 23/03/2010 – Presentation of the AOP handbook in Geneva
- 17/07/2008 – Answer of Mr. Jon W. Dudas, Under Secretary and Director of the USPTO
- 18/06/2008 – Letter to Ms Meltzer, Director of USPTO on Trademark Applications containing Protected Certification Mark
