New Act of the Lisbon Agreement Adopted, Bosnia, Romania, Hungary among Signatories

The Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications (the Act) was adopted at the Diplomatic Conference held at the WIPO headquarters in Geneva from May 11–21.

The Act revises the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin, now permitting international registration of geographical indications (GIs) in addition to appellations of origin. The Act also permits certain intergovernmental organizations to become parties to the Lisbon Agreement.

Other changes concern fee provisions, scope of protection, protection against becoming generic, and safeguarding prior trademark rights.

On May 21, the Act was signed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Congo, France, Gabon, Hungary, Mali, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania and Togo. The Act will remain open for signatures for one year and will enter into force three months after five eligible parties have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession.

Prepared by: Roxana Sarghi

For more information, please contact romania@petosevic.com.

Source: Romanian PTO, WIPO