1、 The provisions of China's Trademark Law on geographical indication certification trademarks:
According to Article 3 of the Trademark Law, registered trademarks in China include four categories: commodity trademarks, service trademarks, collective trademarks, and certification trademarks. The certification trademark referred to in this Law refers to a mark controlled by an organization with supervisory ability over a certain commodity or service, and used by a unit or individual outside the organization to prove the origin, raw materials, manufacturing method, quality, or other specific quality of the commodity or service
Article 16 (2) of the Trademark Law stipulates that geographical indications refer to the indications indicating that a certain product originates from a certain region, and that the specific quality, reputation, or other characteristics of the product are mainly determined by the natural or cultural factors of the region. According to Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Implementation Regulations of the Trademark Law, geographical indications can be applied for registration as proof trademarks or collective trademarks. Therefore, a geographical indication certification trademark is a certification trademark that is different from a commodity trademark or a service trademark, as well as a special type of certification trademark that is different from a general certification trademark. A geographical indication certification trademark is a trademark that proves that a certain product using the symbol originates from the region indicated, and the specific quality, reputation, or other characteristics of the product are mainly determined by the natural or cultural factors of the region.
2、 What product can I apply for registration of a geographical indication certification trademark
Geographical indication products refer to products of origin originating from a specific region, as well as cultivated and farmed products from that region; All raw materials come from the local area or some come from other regions, and products are produced and processed according to specific processes in the local area. The quality, reputation, or other characteristics possessed essentially depend on the natural and cultural factors of the place of origin.
Specific industries can be divided into: wine, tea, fruits, vegetables, grains and oils, poultry and livestock eggs, aquatic products, food and beverage, Chinese herbal medicine, and others.
3、 The significance of registering geographical indication certification trademarks for products of origin
（1） Protect and inherit the characteristics and culture of products of origin in accordance with the law
Geographical indications contain great economic value. At present, the protected mode of geographical indications in the world includes anti unfair competition plus trademark law protection and special law protection. China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce, in accordance with the Trademark Law, adopts a specialized protection law model to actively protect geographical indication products with a long history, good industrialization, and certain cultural characteristics in China. Its main content is defensive, which prohibits the act of counterfeiting geographical indications, such as using false geographical indications, false representations, etc. (Geographical indication certification trademark is not only a protection of product quality, but also a protection of intellectual property rights of products of origin, making geographical indication products legal and mandatory.)
（2） Develop management norms, unify industry standards, and assist industry development
For products that apply for geographical indication certification trademarks, the "Regulations on the Administration of the Use of Geographical Indication Certification Trademarks" must be formulated in accordance with the Trademark Law, and local production, processing, and operation institutions that review and approve the management regulations can authorize them to use the trademark. Ensure that the products of the enterprise using the geographical indication certification trademark represent the most authentic and high-quality products in the local area. Prohibit the use of this trademark for products with substandard quality, thereby establishing the reputation of local geographical indication products, making this business card well-known to more consumers, and promoting the industrialization development of the product.
4、 Benefits of applying for certification trademarks for geographical indication products
（1） Take the lead in seizing the unique geographical indication certification trademark brand in the local area
The core content of geographical indications is "place name+product name", which is unique and non repeatable. Each region of a product can only apply for one, such as "Zhangqiu scallion" and "Jiaozhou cabbage". And accept registration based on the principle of first reporting, first registering. Products that have already been declared will no longer be accepted for registration. At the same time, the successful application of the geographical indication certification trademark registrant can obtain the trademark management rights of the "place name+product name" text and the exclusive right to use the geographical indication special identification.
（2） Mastering the pricing power of products and improving their profitability
Geographical indication certification trademarks are benchmarks that drive local economic development. After tracking and research, the prices of agricultural products with geographical indication certification trademarks are generally 20% -90% higher than those of similar products. The price of geographical indication agricultural products has increased by an average of 87.69% compared to the price without registration protection, nearly doubling. After registering and using the "Zhangqiu Scallion" geographical indication certification trademark, the economic value of scallions in Zhangqiu City has significantly increased, from 0.2-0.6 yuan per kilogram before registration protection to 1.2-5 yuan. The price after registration protection is 2-5 times that before registration, with a net income of over 2000 yuan per acre and an average income of 10000 yuan per township household in the main production area. Jiaozhou cabbage has a long history and appeared in Jiaozhou over 1000 years ago. After successful registration, the value of Jiaozhou cabbage quickly increased from a few cents per kilogram to an average of 48 yuan per tree.
（3） Loan financing through geographical indication certification of trademarks
In August 2014, with the evaluation value of 308 million yuan for the geographical indication certification trademark of Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs in Bacheng, the Bacheng Yangcheng Lake Crab Industry Association obtained a loan of 100 million yuan from Bank of China's Bacheng Branch. This is also the first loan issued by Jiangsu Province to pledge the exclusive right to use geographical indication certification trademarks. The resolution of financing difficulties has provided impetus for the development of the Kunshan hairy crab industry. Crab merchants have changed their marketing models, and crab farmers have expanded their aquaculture scale.
（4） Beneficial to improving product image and the value of the company's existing trademark brand
The geographical indication certification trademark is a tangible indication that can be directly printed on the product packaging and raw material instructions. When a registered trademark is used together with a geographical indication certification trademark, it can create differentiation within the local and national industry, increase competitiveness, and also reflect the high image of the product. For products without registered trademarks, registering a geographical indication certification trademark is an excellent brand choice.
（5） Obtaining local government promotion and policy dividends
In recent years, geographical indication products have particularly significant economic and social value. Some regions have begun to use geographical indications to create a "business card" of local characteristic economy, expand product sales, and achieve significant brand and economic benefits, which is an important force for local economic development. Such as "West Lake Longjing Tea", "Qianxi Chestnut", "Anxi Tieguanyin Tea", "Fuling Zhacai", etc.
5、 Three Benefits of Applying for a Geographical Indication Proof Trademark for Regional Development
（1） It is beneficial for producers
The use of geographical indications must be for products produced or processed within the protected area. As producers must comply with strict production rules, the quality of production is supervised by government departments, and must meet the standards of geographical indication products, production is limited, and products are more expensive than those that do not use geographical indications. Every producer can enjoy the collective recognition of geographical indications. The popularity and relatively limited production of geographical indication products enable them to sell at a good price. According to statistics, according to reports from various parts of the country, the purchase prices of agricultural products that have obtained geographical indication registration have generally increased by 15% to 20%. Geographical indications can not only enhance the competitiveness and price level of products in the domestic market, but also enhance their competitiveness and price level in the international market.
（2） It is beneficial for consumers
The products indicated by geographical indications are associated with specific geographical regions. Unique resources have relatively strong "comparative advantage" in the market, and even form "absolute advantage". Due to the globalization of trade, online shopping is becoming increasingly popular, and consumers are distancing themselves from producers. As a result, the transparency of producers is relatively reduced, which can easily cause concerns among consumers. Geographical indications provide local government guarantees for the origin of products and also ensure the quality standards of qualified products. At the same time, geographical indications also mean the reputation and value of a product, which provides consumers with an objective response and reassures them to consume openly. For consumers, products named after their country of origin are guaranteed, non-destructive, and high-quality products. Before national approval, geographical indication products already had a reputation for their characteristics and quality throughout the country. National approval affirms this reputation and guarantees that consumers can buy trustworthy products.
（3） It is beneficial to the local government and regional economy
The use of geographical indication products has its own advantages. In China, implementing the protection system for geographical indication products is a means to promote regional economic development and regional production. The establishment of production standards enables local and central governments to actively communicate. The implementation of the geographical indication protection system requires strict monitoring by the local government that uses geographical indication products, and supervision is required for each production process. This enables the local government to grasp the production and market situation in the first place, and strengthens close contact and trust between the local government and producers. In foreign countries, geographical indication is a unique product naming that symbolizes a country in international trade and brings an international reputation. If a country owns geographical indication products, as the guarantor of geographical indications, the country can speak in the World Trade Organization as an international political privileged person
6、 Number and output value of registered geographical indication certification trademarks in China
According to the fourth national geographical indication survey report, the number of registrations is reported and counted. As of the end of 2014, the number of registered geographical indications in China has reached 4576. The per capita value of geographical indications in China is 3.38 per million people, with an average of 4.75 geographical indications per 10000 square kilometers.
The average number of geographical indications in 31 provinces and cities across the country is 148. The top 5 provinces and cities with the highest number of geographical indications are Shandong (587), Sichuan (407), Hubei (309), Fujian (262), and Zhejiang (210). These 5 provinces and cities account for 38.79% of the total number of geographical indications in the country, accounting for more than one-third of the total number of geographical indications in the country. Among the ten product categories of geographical indications, the top three in terms of quantity are fruits (1052), vegetables (674), and grains and oils (519). These three categories account for 49.06% of the total number of geographical indications in China and half of the total number of geographical indications in the country.
7、 Validity period of geographical indication certification trademark
According to the Trademark Law, the validity period of a geographical indication certification trademark is ten years, calculated from the date of approval for registration. You can apply for renewal of registration before the expiration of the validity period, and each renewal of registration is valid for ten years.
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