歐盟地理標示研究

A Study of EU Geographical Indication Law

歐盟地理標示制度的建立始於一九九二年農食品地理標示規章的制定。而其制定則為市場整合的過程中來自傳統農食產品生產者的政治壓力與歐洲共同農業政策改革兩大背景因素交互激盪的結果。今日，在歐盟政策網絡中地理標示是食品品質確保方案的一環；而食品品質方案本身則為歐盟鄉村發展計畫的一部分，而鄉村發展計畫則是歐洲共同農業政策的第二支柱。地理標示規章保護受保護的原產地名稱與受保護的地理標示兩種名稱。地理標示規章的一大特徵是不僅規範受保護的名稱同時也規範受保護的名稱所表彰的產品的條件。地理標示規章採行註冊保護主義。在通常情況下只有同一農產品或食品生產者或加工者的團體組織才有資格申請註冊。產品說明書是地理標示制度的核心元素，在申請階段，產品說明書所載資訊被用來決定該名稱是否應受保護。在註冊之後，產品說明書的規定成為想要使用該名稱的生產及加工者必須遵守的規範。產品說明書的內容更是界定法律保護範圍的基礎。地理標示賦予權利人兩種權利，亦即，使用權與排他權。只要不被撤銷註冊，權利可以永久存續。歐盟地理標示保護先天通用性名稱、鼓勵卡特爾並回饋獎勵地方集體傳統生產方式。這些特性使地理標示成為一種為不公平競爭，反競爭與反創新提供誘因的智慧財產權。

The EU explicitly exploits geographical indications (GIs) as a policy tool for rural development and agro-food sector. An EU GI regime for agro-food products was introduced in the early 1990s partly because of the political need to protect local traditional food producers and partly because of its potential in benefiting rural economy while maintaining food quality which fit into the multifunctional features of the CAP reform. Under the EU GI law, protection is acquired through registration. As a collective right, only a group is entitled to apply for registration and a registered name may be used by any operator marketing agro-food products conforming to the criteria. A registered name gives its legitimate users the right to prevent the unauthorized use of the protected name even where there is no consumer confusion. The protection is of indefinite duration so long as the conditions for protection continue to be met. EU GIs protect innately generic names, encourage cartels, and reward production methods complying with local and collective traditions. By doing so, GIs become a form intellectual property incentivizing practices, which can generally be regarded as unfair, anti-competitive, and anti-innovative.