October 2, 2019
Samoa deposited on October 2, 2019 its instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications (“Geneva Act”).
The instrument of accession was deposited with WIPO Director General Francis Gurry by H. E. Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell, Samoa’s Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labor.
The Geneva Act provides producers of quality products linked to origin, with faster and cheaper access to the international protection of their products’ distinctive designations. It further develops the legal framework of the Lisbon System, which helps promote many globally marketed products such as, for example, Darjeeling tea and Café de Colombia.
Accession by Samoa constitutes a significant step forward towards the entry into force of the Geneva Act.
The Geneva Act will enter into force three months after the accession of five eligible parties.
About the Geneva Act
The Geneva Act is designed to help ensure that producers of quality products linked to origin are able to protect the distinctive designations of their products in multiple jurisdictions, either as appellations of origin or geographical indications, through a single application with WIPO and the payment of one set of fees.
About the Lisbon System
The Lisbon System provides protection for names that identify the geographic origin of products such as coffee, tea, fruits, wine, pottery, glass and cloth.
Examples of appellations of origin and geographical indications include Kampot Pepper, Scotch whisky, Darjeeling tea, Café de Colombia, Gouda Holland, Argan oil, Swiss watches and Tequila.
