Unlawful Use of Geographical Indication “Sulguni” was Prevented on the Estonian Market

It has become known to the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia Sakpatenti, with the assistance of the Embassy of Georgia to the Republic of Estonia, that a fact of unlawful use of the Georgian protected geographical indication of cheese “Sulguni” took place on the territory of Estonia. After implementation of relevant measures, the infringing goods marked with the appellation “Suluguni” was removed from the network of supermarkets “SELVER”.
To respond to the infringement, on July 30, 2021, Sakpatenti appealed in writing to the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) of the European Commission. Upon the request of the Commission, the competent authorities of Estonia investigated the case, as a result of which, in order to prevent the unauthorized use and distribution of the Georgian geographical indication in Estonia, necessary measures were carried out and the infringing goods were removed.
The Georgian appellations of origin and geographical indications are protected on the territory of the European Union on the basis of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia, within which the Parties mutually recognize and protect geographical indications, and in case of infringing rights, they take relevant administrative measures.
Sakpatenti is actively engaged in protection of Georgian appellations of origin and geographical indications outside the borders of Georgia, to prevent the facts of infringement of rights on Georgian appellations of origin and geographical indications and of damaging their reputation.