News & Resources

December 8, 2021

In May 2021, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued its Special 301 report on intellectual property protection, which included dealing with the misuse of GI protections as a trade priority. To help inform the report, in January, CCFN filed with USTR extensive comments, outlining GI-related developments, the roles of foreign governments in driving those policies, and the impacts on U.S. farmers and food producers.

December 8, 2021

The International Trademark Association (INTA) utilized ample input from CCFN in its comments to the European Commission on their consideration of non-agricultural geographical indications (GIs). CCFN regularly seized GI-related opportunities for comment offered by the EU and other countries in order to consistently outline the core elements of well-designed GI systems.

December 8, 2021

In June 2021, CCFN presented in a webinar sponsored by USPTO and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) focused on the use of common names and GIs in Africa. Approximately 60 participants across the ARIPO 19-country region participated in the event.

December 8, 2021

CCFN submitted two sets of public comments to the EU in response to a proposed revision of its geographical indications (GIs) system and its 2022 EU Intellectual Property Office’s (EUIPO) Guidelines on trademark practice.

December 8, 2021

CCFN met virtually with U.N. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director-General Daren Tang in January to welcome him in his new role and to discuss potential areas of collaboration, particularly on issues related to the use of commonly named products.

December 8, 2021

In September, CCFN’s Senior Director, Shawna Morris, spoke to over 300 participants of the WIPO’s bi-annual symposium on GIs about how GIs are impacting trade around the world. Her remarks called for respecting the rights of producers and consumers to use common food names, and specifically targeted actions by the EU, which restrict those rights. Highlighting that the misuse of GIs stamps out competition to the detriment of local industries, trading partners, and consumers, Morris called for stronger protections to address negative impacts.