GREECE

COUNTRY : HELLENIC REPUBLIC

CAPITAL : ATHENS

LANGUAGE : GREEK

 

MEMBER : PARIS CONVENTION, WTO-TRIPS, BERNE CONVENTION, EUROPEAN UNION COMMUNITY TRADEMARKS, MADRID PROTOCOL, PCT, WIPO

The IP affairs in Greece are looked after by the Greek Intellectual Property Office (OBI).

The Geographical Indications affairs in Greece are looked after by:

  1. The Ministry for Rural Development & Food.
  2. Agricultural Products Certification & Supervision Organisation (AGROCERT)

  • ROLE PLAYED BY GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION GREECE:
      • GI is a source indicator informing consumers about a product’s origin from a certain place.
      • GI confirms certain special characteristics  inherent to the pro
  • PROTECTION ACCORDED TO GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION IN GREECE

    • Protection Accorded to GIs: GIs in Portugal are protected by way of the following:

      1. Geographical Indications Law
      2. EC regulations

      Categories of GI Protected:

      1. Protected Designations of Origin – PDO
      2. Protected Geographical Indications – PGI
      3. Traditional Speciality Guaranteed – TSG
  • KIND OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION NOT PROTECTABLE GREECE

    • Geographical Indications are not protectable if and when:

      • They are immoral or against public order;
      • GIs likely to mislead the public with respect to the place of origin of the goods;
      • Trademarks containing or consisting  GIs likely to cause confusion as to the quality of the goods not originating from the territory indicated;
      • They are confusingly similar to a trade mark for which rights had been acquired before the GI is protected in its country of origin;
      • GIs that indicate the place of origin of use of the wines & spirits originating in a region other than the place of origin;
      • GIs lack the requisite qualities and characteristics;
      • Not falling under the definition of appellations of origin and GI;
      • Conflicts with prior GI;
      • Imitates prior GI;
      • Encourages Unfair Competition;

      GIs may be protected as:

      1. Community Marks
      2. Guarantee Marks
      3. Certification Marks
  • REQUISITES TO BE GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION GREECE
  • WHO CAN FILE GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION GREECE
  • EXAMINATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION GREECE

    • Applications are filed and received by the ministry.

      Applicants so received are then scrutinised by AGROCERT after which the products are certified by the authorities.

      Interested parties can, post registration of the application, object, oppose or ask for cancellation of the GI or DO.

  • PUBLICATION & REGISTRATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION GREECE

    • Applications complying with all formal requirements are approved by the Authorities.

      If there is no opposition post registration of the application, or the opposition is unsuccessful, the applicant’s GI is registered.

  • USAGE OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION GREECE
  • Cost of Registration of Trademarks
Geographical News