Sao Tome and Principe Joins the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement
October 10, 2023
On August 2, 2023, the Government of Sao Tome and Principe deposited its instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications ("Geneva Act").
With this accession, the Geneva Act now offers protection in 19 Contracting Parties covering up to 57 countries, while the Lisbon System covers up to 72 countries in total.
This accession will allow appellations of origin and geographical indications from Sao Tome and Principe, such as the renowned Cocoa from Sao Tome and Principe to be protected under the Geneva Act.
The Geneva Act will enter into force with respect to Sao Tome and Principe on November 2, 2023.
About the Geneva Act
The Geneva Act helps producers of quality products, linked to origin, to protect the distinctive designations of their products in multiple jurisdictions, either as appellations of origin or geographical indications, through a single application filed with WIPO, and the payment of one set of fees.
About the Lisbon System
The Lisbon System provides protection for names that identify the geographic origin of products such as coffee, tea, fruits, cheese, wine, pottery, glass and cloth.
Examples of appellations of origin and geographical indications
- Kampot Pepper (Cambodia)
- Comté (France)
- Tokaj (Hungary)
- Sarough Handmade Carpet (Iran)
- Tequila (Mexico)
- Porto (Portugal)
- Chulucanas (Peru)
- Banano de Costa Rica (Costa Rica)
- Grana Padano (Italy)
- Bohemia Crystal (Czech Republic)
- Figue de Djebba (Tunisia)