TRIPS协议保护地理标志规范评析

《TRIPS协议》是地理标志国际保护的一个里程碑,是第一个拥有150个签署方并规定最低保护标准的国际协议,也是第一个对GIs保护问题规定得最全面的国际条约。其第5部分规定适用高效的WTO争端解决机制来解决地理标志国际保护方面的争端,允许进行交叉报复。通过第71条定期审核和第23条关于协商的规定,给予协议的实施和发展以有效的监督,并预留了空间。《TRIPS协议》第3部分为地理标志权利人规定了获得救济的多种途径。对协议条款不允许提出保留,从而加强了协议的拘束力和实施效果。该协议是对其前地理标志国际保护公约成就的继承,也是对以往相关公约缺陷的弥补。《TRIPS协议》自身的缺陷包括协议保护范围的不确定性和例外、成员方的自由裁量权及对地理标志跨国争议案件裁决结果的不确定性。因此,TRIPS协议仍有许多用语和难题需要澄清和解决。

On the TRIPS Agreement Concerning the Protection of Geographical Indications

TRIPS Agreement is a milestone in history in the protection of geographical indications, which is the first international agreement with 150 signatories and minimum protection standards. This agreement is also the first one to give the most comprehensive protection, in Part V of which provides efficient dispute prevention and settlement mechanism. Cross-retaliation is allowed. Through periodical review in Article 71 and consulta- tion in Article 23, an efficient supervision is exercised over the implementing and development of the agree- ment, leaving certain space. Its part III provides many ways of remedies. Reservation of the agreement is not allowed, resulting in strengthening its binding force and implementing efficiency. The TRIPS Agreement is both the succession of the achievements of the former treaties and the overcoming of the demerits. It has its own demerits, including the uncertainty of the protection scope and exceptions, improper judicial discretion, and the uncertainty of the decisions of the related cases. Many terms and problems in the TRIPS Agreement are to be clarified and settled.