Working Group on the Development of the Lisbon System

As part of the ongoing work on the planned accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, on November 2, 2020, NCIP representatives as observers took part in the 3rd session of the Working Group on the Development of the Lisbon System, organized in a hybrid format by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization.

The delegates discussed financial stability of the Lisbon System and amendments to the Common Regulations under the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration and the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications (hereinafter – Common Regulations under the Lisbon Agreement). A new Rule 2bis was discussed, providing for the excuse of a delay in meeting time limits, in case of war, revolution, civil disorder, strike, natural calamity or other force majeure event, as well as in case of interruption of postal or delivery services and failure of electronic communication systems.

The Working Group agreed on recommending to the Lisbon Union Assembly the adoption of the proposed amendments to the Common Regulations under the Lisbon Agreement.