Protection of Chinese geographical indications in EU et vice versa
The European Union and China have recently negotiated a bilateral agreement that will ensure the protection of 100 Chinese geographical indications in the EU and 100 European GIs in China. This agreement is of major importance in light of the fact that China is the second largest exporter of EU agricultural products market with GIs.
Amongst notorious GIs such as Champagne, Feta cheese and Prosciutto di Parma, wines from the Vipava valley (“Vipavska dolina”) can also be found on the list of European appellations. Although Slovenia has many other indications worth of international protection, such as Carniolian sausage (“kranjska klobasa”) and Bovec cheese (“bovški sir”), the named wines have, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, the greatest export potential. Other Slovenian product could find its way on the list expanding the protection in China to additional 175 products. This list is said to be negotiated 4 years after the entry into force of the agreement.
Geographical indications (GIs) are appellations that communicate the origin of the goods to participants on the market. Because of the quality that is associated with the origin, the consumers are willing to pay more for such products. Similarly to trademarks, geographical indications are industrial property rights designed to protect consumers from being deceived as well as producers from free-riding.
European Commission has finally published the consultation document on stakeholders’ dialogue regarding the implementation of Article 17 of the Directive (EU) 2019/790 on Copyright and Related Rights on Digital Single Market. The document sums up the stakeholders’ main concerns and sets forth the initial views of the European Commission with the aim to finalise the Commission guidance on Article 17 implementation.
The International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) with its seat in Slovenia is holding a virtual Consultation on draft Recommendation on the Ethics of AI from 27 to 29 July 2020. As an expert from Slovenia, dr. Maja Bogataj Jančič will partake in the Consultation as well.
Cultural heritage preservation is crucial not only for maintaining but also for development of society on national, as well as international level. Despite the fact that cultural heritage objects remind us of the past times when today’s technology did not exist yet, technological development can be harnessed for preservation, restoration and research of cultural heritage through its digitisation. With the aim of improving policy instruments for cultural heritage digitisation across Europe, the European Commission launched the Public consultation on digital access to European cultural heritage.
Between 7 and 9 July the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) organised the second session of the Conversation on Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence. The first session was held last September. On its basis, WIPO published the Draft Issues Paper on Intellectual Property Policy and Artificial Intelligence on which the interested public then submitted comments. In May, WIPO issued the Revised Issues Paper on Intellectual Property Policy and Artificial Intelligence that has been the basis of the second meeting.