Round Table on Geographical Indications

February 21, 2019

A round table discussion entitled Registration, Protection and Enforcement of Geographical Indications took place at the Kutafin Moscow State Academy of Law, on February 15, 2019. Leading intellectual property (IP) experts from government, the private sector and the scientific community came together to discuss theoretical and practical issues surrounding the legal protection of IP.

The discussion was organized as a part of the VII International Legal Forum on Legal Protection of Intellectual Property (IP): Theoretical and Practical Issues by the Federal Council of the Russian Federation.

wro_news21012019a_3369 — Round table on Registration, Protection and Enforcement of Geographical Indications (Photo: Federal Council of the Russian Federation)

The event was opened by Senator Liliya Gumerova, Deputy Chair, Committee on Science, Education and Culture. In her opening address Ms. Gumerova welcomed the participants and wished them an effective and interesting discussion. The highlight of her speech was an argument for the importance of Russia’s participation in the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications.

The participants also expressed their views on the draft law on amendment of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation aimed at introducing the concept of geographical indications into Russian legislation.

WIPO was represented by Zaurbek Albegonov, Senior Counselor, WIPO Office in the Russian Federation. In his presentation Mr. Albegonov outlined the main aspects of the Lisbon Agreement.

wro_news21012019b_3368 — Mr. Zaurbek Albegonov, Senior Counselor, WIPO Office in the Russian Federation (Photo: Federal Council of the Russian Federation)

More than 50 participants took part in the round table. The event was organized by the Federal Council of the Russian Federation in cooperation with Rospatent and Kutafin Moscow State Academy of Law.