Geographical Indications (GIs) is a unique category of intellectual property rights with collective ownership linking a product with its place of origin and the producers of goods. It became the subject matter of binding international obligation for all WTO members with the conclusion of the TRIPS Agreement. The protection of GIs offers interesting potential for facilitating the socio-economic development of producers of GIs products, including local communities in developing countries, as well as extending protection to traditional knowledge associated with the GIs.
ICTSD’s work in this area has sought to explore such potential through original research and empirical studies showing modalities and options for the protection of GIs, in different regions of the world, as well as assessing the economic impact of GIs protection.