Geographical indication trademark is a sign that a commodity comes from a certain region, and the specific quality, reputation or other characteristics of the commodity are mainly determined by natural or human factors in the region. According to the Trademark Law, the period of validity of a geographical indication certification trademark is ten years, counting from the date of approval of registration. You can apply for renewal of registration before the expiration of the validity period, and each renewal of registration is valid for ten years. Therefore, the term of protection of geographical indications is ten years, but it can be extended for another ten years before the expiration.

Second, the characteristics of geographical indications

Regionality, intellectual property rights are regional and protected only within a certain range, but geographical indications are more regional, because geographical indications are not only protected by the state, but also restricted by their owners, and only producers of commodity sources can use geographical indications.

Group, geographical indications can be used by all enterprises and individuals in the origin of goods, as long as the goods they produce meet the product quality represented by geographical indications, so that more than one person uses the same geographical indication in the same area, making the owners of geographical indications collectivized.

Uniqueness, geographical indication, as a sign, is related to a certain geographical area. Its main function is to enable consumers to distinguish the goods in a certain region from similar goods in other regions, compare and choose from different aspects, so as to find the best fit between the value and use value of goods and buy the goods they want.

Three. Protection of geographical indications

There are three main ways to protect geographical indications: the so-called special system, collective trademark or certification trademark; And the way to pay attention to business behavior, including the approval mechanism of administrative products. The difference between these protection methods lies in important issues such as protection conditions or protection scope. In addition, there are some similarities between the two protection methods, namely, special system and collective trademark or certification trademark system. For example, these systems set collective use rights for users of geographical indications who meet certain standards. Generally speaking, different countries and regions have different ways to protect geographical indications, and the combination of two or more of the above protection methods is usually adopted. These protection methods are formed according to different legal traditions and within the framework of their respective historical and economic conditions.

This is the term I introduced to you about the protection of geographical indications. According to the Trademark Law, the period of validity of a geographical indication certification trademark is ten years, counting from the date of approval of registration. You can apply for renewal of registration before the expiration of the validity period, and each renewal of registration is valid for ten years. Therefore, the term of protection of geographical indications is ten years, but it can be extended for another ten years before the expiration.