| RESTRICTED | |
| WT/GC/W/208 17 June 1999 |
|
| (99-2459) | |
| General Council | Original: Spanish |
preparAtions for the 1999 ministerial conference
Agreement on TRIPS
Proposal Regarding Extension of Protection of Geographical Indications under Paragraph 9(a)(i) of the Geneva Ministerial Declaration
Communication from Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Egypt, Honduras, India
Indonesia, Nicaragua and Pakistan
The following communication, dated 10 June 1999, has been received from the Permanent Mission of Cuba.
_______________
1. Introduction
The protection of geographical indications is an industrial property measure which makes it possible to protect all products, whether man-made or natural, that are distinguished by their quality, reputation or the other characteristics essentially attributable to their geographical origin.
Section 3 (Articles 22-24) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) regulates all matters relating to this important means of protection.
Article 23 grants additional protection exclusively for wines and spirits.
2. Proposal
On different occasions, in the context of the Council for TRIPS, certain WTO Members have expressed interest in having the above-mentioned protection extended to cover other products of special importance to them. In this connection, the above-mentioned countries request that the said additional protection be extended to products other than wines and spirits.