U.S. wins geographical food names case in WTO

U.S. wins geographical food names case in WTO    The World Trade Organization ruled in favor of the United States in a case against the European Union’s system for protecting geographic food names.
   Geographic food names, also known as “geographical indications,” are protected names that have a particular association with a food product, such as Florida oranges and Roquefort cheese.
   The United States affirmed to the WTO that it has a robust system to protect geographical indications, primarily through rights provided to private rightholders under the U.S. trademark system.
   The United States claimed the European Commission’s regulatory regime for geographical indications is separate and apart from its trademark system, which is a violation of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
   “For years, Europe effectively had a ‘do not apply’ sign directed at foreign producers,” said Acting U.S. Trade Representative Peter F. Allgeier, who applauded the WTO’s ruling Tuesday. “We believe that, under WTO rules, U.S. farmers, ranchers, and other food producers should have the same access to protection for ‘geographical indications’ as European food producers, and that the European system discriminated against us.”