Exceptional by Origin: What Was the International Conference on Geographical Indications Like?
Liptovská bryndza, Brhlovské podlievané buchty, Bardejovský med, or Modranská majolika. What do these traditional Slovak unique products have in common? They are proof that what began as a local tradition can, through consistent brand building and properly set legal protection, become a strong pillar of the regional economy and a worldwide reputation.
This exact topic was the focus of the International Conference on Geographical Indications, which took place in Bratislava. Our law firm could not miss this significant event.
What are geographical indications and how do they protect European and Slovak products?
Geographical indications represent a key system of protection for high-quality and traditional products within the European Union. Their primary goals are to:
- Protect authentic products against unfair competition and cheap imitations,
- Preserve the cultural and historical heritage of individual regions,
- Provide consumers with a guarantee that they are buying goods with a specific quality, story, and guaranteed origin.
Within EU legislation, we distinguish three main levels and types of protection:
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
Represents the strongest link between a product and a defined territory. It requires that all stages of production, processing, and preparation take place exclusively in the given geographical area.
Examples: Bardejovský med, Stupavské zelé, or Tokaj wine from the Slovak region.
Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
For this type of protection, it is crucial that at least one of the key stages of production, processing, or preparation takes place in the given area.
Examples: Skalický trdelník or Muránske buchty.
Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)
Unlike PDO and PGI, this system does not apply to a specific geographical place of origin. However, it protects a traditional recipe, composition, raw materials, or method of production that has been proven to be used for at least 30 years.
Examples: Bratislavské rožky or Spišské párky.
Story and quality sell: An intellectual property expert's perspective
Our intellectual property expert, Miroslava Antalová, spoke during a panel discussion precisely about the principles of protection, building customer trust, and transforming local identity into long-term market value.
She participated in the discussion panel alongside top experts from national and international institutions, including representatives from:
- ÚPV SR (Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic),
- EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office),
- European Commission,
- WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization).
The main idea of the entire discussion resonated clearly: The story sells.
Strong brands with high added value are not built solely on the product itself, but primarily on its story, tradition, and uncompromising quality. The protection of intellectual property and geographical indications is a key legal shield for producers against imitation and, at the same time, an irreplaceable entry ticket to the world of international trade and global respect.
We are here to protect your intellectual property
We would like to thank the organizers and all the participants we met during the conference in Bratislava at stimulating panels or networking conversations. We look forward to further joint projects in protecting exceptional Slovak and European products.