This article was originally published in IAM Media.
On 26 July 2019 the Russian president signed a bill on a
new, independent form of intellectual property – geographical
indications (GIs). The bill introduces amendments to Part IV of the
Russian Civil Code and the federal law on the manufacture and
circulation of spirits and alcoholic products.
When the law comes into force next year, GIs will coexist with
appellations of origin, which are currently protected under Russian
law. Among the most famous Russian names reGIstered as appellations
of origin are Khokhloma painting, Gzhel porcelain, Russian Vodka
and Abrau-Durso sparkling wine, to name a few. Such famous foreign
names as prosecco for Italian wines, tequila for a Mexican national
alcoholic spirit, habanos for Cuban cigars and
prosciutto di parma for Italian dry-cured ham are among
those already protected appellations of origin in Russia.
