Abstract
This chapter examines the sui generis protection of geographical indications (GIs) in the UK. It describes the historical origins of and justifications for such regimes, which developed around wine protection. It then describes the major international treaties in this area, while indicating the importance of bilateral agreements. Drawing on the Quality Schemes Regulation for agricultural products and foodstuffs, the chapter outlines the basic features of registration-based protection for wines, spirits, aromatised wines, and agricultural products and foodstuffs. It describes the two forms of protected signs: protected designations of origin (PDOs) and protected geographical indications (PGIs). The chapter concludes by looking at situations in which a registered name will be infringed (or misused), together with the scope of protection against infringement.
