"Arab countries have several geographical indications that need to be protected. An immediate call to protect Arab products’ quality and reputation should be launched," Chairman of the Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP), Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, said at the First Geographical Indications Symposium, which was held at Beach Rotana Hotel, Abu-Dhabi, April 12-13, 2005.
The symposium recommended establishing a comprehensive database, which includes all geographical indications in each country in the Arab world, as this is the first step that needs to be taken by governments in order to protect and promote their heritage and local products.
“We suggest that ASIP take this enormous job and offer all the assistance needed to the countries interested in establishing their own geographical indications database,” Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated.
"ASIP will form a division specializing in geographical indications; this division will build a strategy concerning geographical indications in the Arab countries, encourage issuing laws and regulations, and joining international treaties related to geographical indications,” he added.
The symposium also recommended updating and modernizing geographical indications laws in the Arab countries to be in harmony with the international standards.
“Many people don’t understand the importance of protecting geographical indications; that is why an awareness campaign should be organized in each country,” he pointed out.
The symposium, which was the first international platform to discuss geographical indications in the Arab world, was held under the patronage of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Economy and Planning, HE Sheikha Lubna Al-Qasimi.
Al-Qasimi disclosed that it was important to hold this symposium in the Arab region especially that the concept of geographical indications is a modern one in intellectual property and needs to be discussed at length.
Several case studies from Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and the United States, in addition to other countries, were presented in the symposium.
"Geographical indications are understood by consumers to denote the origin and the quality of products. False use of geographical indications by unauthorized parties is detrimental to consumers and legitimate producers," Executive Director of Abu-Ghazaleh Legal, Mr. Samer Pharaon, said.
"Arab countries have many cases related to geographical indications; some of the best examples are Doan honey from Yemen (Doan is a famous valley in the Hadramout area), Oman’s Halva, and Masafi from the UAE,” he added.
Mr. Pharaon pointed out that several Arab countries like Jordan and Egypt have laws for geographical indications protection. Moreover, he indicated that Algeria joined the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration in 1972, followed by Tunisia in 1973.
Along with the symposium, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAGO) held several other meetings including the five-year strategy planning meeting of the group, the TAGO Board of Advisors meeting, the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UN ICT TF) Arab Regional Network meeting, and the Licensing Executives Society-Arab Countries (LES-AC) meetings.
Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, who is also chairman of the UN ICT TF Arab Regional Network, said that the Task Force’s meetings discussed several Internet-related issues focusing on its Arabization.
During the meetings, TAGO announced a strategic partnership agreement with APCO Worldwide, a leading global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy.
"The agreement aims to contribute to the socio-economic development of the Arab world by providing Arab business, governmental, and non-governmental leaders with sophisticated strategic communications and public relation services," Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh noted.
The symposium, organized by ASIP and the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and supported by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), hosted experts in the fields of intellectual property, business, and law.