Geographical Indication Protection: Can Certification Marks Outshine The EU's Newest Shield?

Producers of industrial and craft products in Europe have previously faced challenges protecting their rights. Nearly six months after the introduction of a new EU system for Geographical Indications (GIs), Sherine Lara Sedfaoui asks whether GI registrations or certification marks now offer the greatest benefits to owners of high-end textile and luxury brands. 

What does a name truly represent? For Murano glass or Solingen blades, the name is everything! It’s a promise of quality, a whisper of history and a guarantee of authenticity. For decades, protecting these industrial and craft treasures in Europe has been a complex legal puzzle. Now, the European Union has forged a new public shield: a unified system for Geographical Indication (GI) protection. But as the dust settles, a fascinating question emerges. In a world of high-end textiles and luxury goods, can this new public system truly replace the powerful, private guardians who have long controlled the narrative of origin? The