CIPIL Evening Webinar: ‘Geographical Indications Protection in UK, Implications Post-Brexit’

Speaker: Sanaz Javadi Farahzadi, IP/Trade Lawyer 

Biography: Ms Sanaz Javadi Farahzadi is an IP/trade lawyer, mentor and international consultant to international organizations, local governments, United Nations and European Union on IP technical assistance, trade development projects, local communities and women empowerment in Europe, Middle East and South East Asia. She has a Master in Intellectual Property Law, an LLM in International Trade Law, and is a Doctoral Researcher in Intellectual Property, Based in Geneva, Switzerland. She was formerly with the World Intellectual Property Organization, International Trade Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, South Center, UNIDROIT. Vice President Organization of Women in International Trade, OWIT, Geneva, Member of UNIDROIT Alumni Association and Member of Fribourg University LLM Alumni Association

Abstract: Since 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union and has become a “third country” and not an EU member state anymore. The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union has generated huge ambiguity regarding the intellectual property right holders and more specifically Geographical Indications(GIs) in the UK and other stakeholders based in other EU member states. Given the fact that the transition period provided under the Withdrawal Agreement between UK and EU will expire on 31 December 2020, a new UK Geographical Indication scheme (UKGI) will be established in the UK from early 2021. This will include new process for applying and awarding GI status in the UK. This new scheme will mean that the UK meets the requirements to join the EU scheme as a third country member and fulfil the UK’ s World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations. The consequence would be that Brexit will remove the avenue for other EU Member States to secure protection in the UK and the opposite. Post-Brexit, the UK government will also conclude free trade agreements with countries that have traditionally been reluctant to recognise GIs, such as the USA , Australia and New Zealand. During the session the GIs system, the socio economic rationale for the protection of Geographical Indications, Geographical indications and trademarks (Distinctive signs with different functions) will be addressed together with success case studies of developed and developing countries, the Brexit process in general, applying it to GIs and following consequences of non-applicability of EU law from 2021 alongside with regional and international protection mechanism.

Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WiJ9vUAUQVq5OZ-BlbqPBw