The Europe-wide protection of regional products no longer only applies to alcohol and foodstuffs such as Thuringian bratwurst. From now on, manufacturers of regional craft and industrial products in Germany can also protect their products with a geographical indication, as announced by the German Patent and Trade Mark Office in Munich.
A number of traditional products from Thuringia and Saxony could benefit from this, including glass art from Lauscha, Jena glass, Meissen porcelain and watches from Glashütte. They are among 39 regional products and product groups from Germany that could be eligible according to a study by the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain.
From Plauen lace to Jena glass
The study also mentions Plauen lace, Sebnitz artificial flowers, wood art from the Ore Mountains, musical instruments from the Vogtland region and Freiberg precision mechanics as products from Saxony. For Thuringia, the EU authority names traditional Lauscha glass art with its famous Christmas tree decorations, Jena glass, wood carvings from the Rhön and Sonneberg toys as candidates.
The 39 proposals also include a number of products from other German states, such as cologne and Ravensburger games. The EU regulation has been in place since 2023, and the corresponding transposition into German regulations has now come into force.
Federal Patent Office responsible for applications
Until now, legal protection for regional products in the EU only existed for alcohol and agricultural products - including Thuringian bratwurst and Lübeck marzipan.
"Protected indications of source underpin the importance of regional products and create awareness of their value," explained Patent Office President Eva Schewior. "They also help to preserve traditional know-how in the relevant regions, increase value creation and secure local jobs."
The Federal Patent Office is responsible for the German applications, which are then sent to the EUIPO in a second stage. Porcelain is conspicuously well represented in the European authority's candidate list for Germany. These include Berlin, Dresden, Freiberg, Fürstenberg, Hutschenreuther, Meissen and Nymphenburg porcelain. Meissen is considered the oldest porcelain manufactory in Europe.
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