Appellation of Origin of Georgian Mineral Water “Nabeghlavi” has been Registered in the People’s Republic of China

On July 13, 2017, the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (SAIC) registered the appellation of origin of Georgian mineral water “Nabeghlavi”.
On February 17, 2016, National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia Sakpatenti filed with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (SAIC) an application requesting registration of “Nabeghlavi”. Upon the completion of relevant procedures, appellation of origin “Nabeghlavi” has been entered in the Register of the Trademark Office of the People’s Republic of China.
The exclusive right on the appellation of origin “Nabeghlavi” in the People’s Republic of China has been granted to the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia.
Protection of appellations of origin in China as well as other countries will have a favourable impact on the development of agriculture of Georgia and will facilitate combatting unlawful use of well-known appellations of Georgian mineral waters.
It is noteworthy that appellation of Georgian mineral water “Nabeghlavi” was registered in bad faith in China in the name of two Chinese companies. Sakpatenti filed appeals with the dispute hearing office of the Trademark Office of China against the Chinese companies and demanded invalidation of the above-mentioned registrations. The dispute between the Georgian party and the Chinese companies was resolved in favour of the Georgian party and by the decision of the dispute hearing office of October 25, 2016, the registrations of “Nabeghlavi” were invalidated for both Chinese companies.