Geographical Indications

Inventions

Utility Models

Industrial Designs

Trade Marks and Service Marks

Geographical Indications

Company Names

Topologies of Integrated Circuit

Selection Achievements

Protecton of Undisclosed Information

Unfair Competition

Copyright and Related Rights

Domain Names

Valuation of Intellectual Property

Republic of Belarus, Minsk

Nezavisimosty pr., 56-302
tel.: +375 17 331 23 32
fax: +375 17 331 16 26
GSM: +375 296 370 370
+375 298 730 730
office@lexpatent.by

A geographical indication is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or reputation or other characteristics that are due to that place of origin. The notion “geographical indication” takes in the notions “appellation of origin” and “indication of source”.

An appellation of origin is the name of a country, town, region or other geographical point, used on products that have a specific quality that is exclusively or essentially due to the geographical environment or other conditions or combination of the both ones in which the products are produced. For example, "Champagne", "Gjel", "Borjomy", "Roquefort".

An indication of source is a designation that directly or indirectly specifies a place of actual origin or manufacturing of goods: a Tula samovar, Vologda laces.

Legal protection of an appellation of origin in the Republic of Belarus is provided on the ground of its registration in the National Center of Intellectual Property. On the ground of registration there is issued a certificate of right to use an appellation of origin.

An indication of source is not liable to state registration. The legal protection of an indication of source is carried out on the ground of this indication use and includes non-admission of use of the indications that are not true (false) or which mislead consumers as to the real geographical place of origin of goods.

Right to an appellation of origin and right to a trade mark. According to the legislation of the Republic of Belarus those sighs that reproduce appellations of origin protected in Belarus can not be registered as trade marks.

Documents required for filing an application for registration and grant of the right to use an appellation of origin in the Republic of Belarus

• Full name and address of an applicant(s);
• Claimed designation;
• Naming of good, for which designation legal protection is sought, and the place of goods production (limits of the geographical area);
• Description of the specific properties of goods;
• In case of a national applicant (physical or legal person of the Republic of Belarus), the conclusion of an Authorized Body on the fact that the applicant is in the specified geographical place and manufactures the goods, the particular properties, certain qualities or other characteristics of which are objectively due to or related to the natural conditions and/or other factors of the named geographical place;
• In case of a foreign applicant, a document confirming his right to use a claimed appellation of origin in the country of the goods origin;
• Document attesting payment of the fee;
• Power of attorney.