Filing of an application for registration of a geographical indication for craft and industrial products

(1) Filing of an application for registration

The applicant, namely the producer group or its representative, shall prepare and submit:

1. a request for registration of a geographical indication
2. a product specification
3. a single document
4. a self-declaration completed by each member of the producer group
5. supporting documents
   1. the original of a power of attorney, if it is being submitted through an authorized person
   2. if the application is submitted by a single producer, a reasoning as to why it has not been possible to form a producer group shall be attached
   3. if the application is submitted by a local or regional authority, such as a municipality, a reasoning for the authority's appointment as the applicant shall be attached
   4. information on any restrictions on the use or protection of the geographical indication
   5. information confirming payment of the fee for submitting the application for registration

(2) Examination of the application

Within three months of receiving the fee for the submission of the registration application, the Patent Office shall evaluate the application and take a decision on the compliance of the documents and product name with the registration requirements and conditions, and shall announce the opposition procedure by publishing the product specification on its website.

Within three months of the publication of the specification, other persons may file an opposition to the registration of the geographical indication. If an objection has been filed, the parties are invited to engage in discussions with a view to reaching an agreement.

(3) Registration of the geographical indication

If no opposition has been filed or if it has been rejected, the Patent Office shall take a decision on the compliance of the geographical indication and its registration application with the registration requirements and conditions and shall submit the application materials to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for examination at European Union level.

After the EUIPO's decision on the registration of the geographical indication has entered into force, the Patent Office, on the basis of the self-declaration submitted, issues a certificate to each member of the producer group, granting them the right to use the protected geographical indication and the Union symbol.