Assessing Multilateral vs. Bilateral Agreements and Geographic Indications Through International Food and Wine

Geographic indications designate the geographical origin of goods and function as trademarks would in an intellectual property regime. Primarily, geographic indications protect image or brand as opposed to the traditional patents, design, and copyrights aims of creation, invention and innovation. While some literature promotes the idea that geographic indications protect traditional knowledge and cultural heritage, very little evidence supports a presumptive corollary between traditional production methods and a particular geographic indication