Page 386 - Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

trademark or a sui generis system, that Party shall with respect to
applications for that protection:

(a) receive those applications for the protection of
geographical indications without requiring intercession by
a Party on behalf of its nationals;
23

(b) process those applications in compliance with reasonable
procedures and formalities ;
24

(c) ensure that its laws and regulations governing the
protection of geographical indications are readily available
to the public and clearly set out the procedures relating to
the protection of geographical indications including
procedures relating to the filing of applications;

(d) make available information to allow the public to obtain
guidance concerning the procedures for filing applications
for the protection of geographical indications, and allow an
applicant or their representative to ascertain the status of
specific applications; and

(e) ensure that such applications are published for opposition
and provide procedures for opposing geographical
indications that are the subject of applications.
Oppositions shall be received without requiring
intercession by a Party on behalf of its nationals.

2. With respect to the protection of a geographical indication referred
to in paragraph 1, a Party shall provide procedures for
cancellation of the protection afforded to a geographical
25
indication.

23 For greater certainty, a Party may require that an application for protection of a
geographical indication originating in another Party include evidence indicating to the
satisfaction of the former Party that the geographical indication is protected in that other
Party.

24 The Parties understand that for the purposes of this subparagraph, reasonable
procedures and formalities may be considered to be not overly burdensome
procedures and formalities.

25 For greater certainty, for the purposes of this Section, cancellation may be
implemented through nullification or revocation proceedings.

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