On 1/5/17 5:32 pm, Jonathan Agmon wrote:
It's a direct quote from the USPTO's position on GIs. Not mine and not even from the EUTM...
Well, here's what else the U.S. has to say about GIs; this was released yesterday. Read page 22. https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/301/2017%20Special%20301%20Report%20FIN... "The EU GI agenda remains highly concerning, especially because of the significant extent to which it undermines the scope of trademarks and other IP rights held by U.S. producers, and imposes barriers on market access for American-made goods and services that rely on the use of common names, such as parmesan or feta. First, the EU GI system raises concerns regarding the extent to which it impairs the scope of trademark protection, including with respect to prior trademark rights. Trademarks are among the most effective ways for producers and companies, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, to create value, promote their goods and services, and protect their brands, particularly with respect to food and beverage products covered by the EU GI system. Many such products are already protected by trademarks in the United States, in the EU, and around the world. ... Second, troubling aspects of the EU GI system impact access for U.S. and other producers in the EU market. The EU has identified hundreds of terms that it argues only certain EU producers should be able to use. ..." -- Jeremy Malcolm Senior Global Policy Analyst Electronic Frontier Foundation https://eff.org jmalcolm@eff.org Tel: 415.436.9333 ext 161 :: Defending Your Rights in the Digital World :: Public key: https://www.eff.org/files/2016/11/27/key_jmalcolm.txt PGP fingerprint: 75D2 4C0D 35EA EA2F 8CA8 8F79 4911 EC4A EDDF 1122