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Among other interesting panels, non-agri GIs will be discussed in a session moderated by Andrea Ringle (BRL Boege Rohde Luebbehuesen, DE):


1. Please introduce yourself and your link to ECTA.

My name is Andrea Ringle. I am attorney-at-law and partner of the multidisciplinary German law firm BRL and a registered specialist lawyer for IPRs. I work in the field of Intellectual Property since 2002 and have collected particular experience in connection with geographical indications over many years. Currently, I am the Chair of the ECTA Geographical Indications Committee.

2. Please introduce the topic of your Conference session.

The session ‘Non-agri GIs: Alchemy?’ will provide an overview, a deep insight, as well as an outlook on the mechanism to protect local craft and industrial products.

While the existence of non-agri geographical indications might not be very present in the public perception today, this is likely to be changed in the near future: an EU regulation on geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products is in the legislative process and represents a novelty. We will also focus attention to the new role of EUIPO in this context and learn about practical experiences in the registration process and protection of non-agri GIs. This will be combined with a comparison with the more common handling of agricultural geographical indications.

3. Please introduce the panel of your Conference session.

• Pilar Montero, Commercial Law Professor, University of Alicante;
• Katarina Kompari, EUIPO Legal Department;
• Audrey Aubard, Secretary General of AFIGIA and International Consultant, specialised on territorial branding and quality schemes strategies.

4. Why should Conference participants join your session, and at whom in particular will your session be directed?

The speakers of this panel have exceptionally profound knowledge in the field of geographical indications. This session will help IP practitioners to understand the system and protection strategies and it will provide an update on important recent development in this specific but significant field of law. We will show you a path through the jungle of protecting non-agri GIs!

5. Why should IP colleagues register for the ECTA Annual Conference?

The ECTA Annual Conference is the yearly highlight for IP practitioners working in the EU.

The educational sessions keep you up to date and expand horizons. Pared with personal and business relationships that are easily built, as well as the possibility of exchanging experiences, the ECTA Annual Conference should not be missed. Plus, the beautiful city of Prague is certainly worth a trip!

**Find out more about the other educational sessions here!**