2025-12-06 06:00
publication
2025-12-06 06:00
Local products of craftsmen and producers will be protected by EU certificates, Małgorzata Szymańska-Rybak, an expert at the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland, told PAP. She explained that producers who register their products may, for example, request a court order to destroy counterfeits.
December 1 this year The EU system of protection of geographical indications for handicraft and industrial products entered into force. The new regulations provide protection, among others: ceramic, glass, textile and metal products, as well as, for example, musical instruments. These are products that enjoy exceptional reputation and quality, thanks to unique technologies and skills improved over the years by local manufacturers.. The system is intended to provide protection in all European Union countries.
As Szymańska-Rybak explained, in Poland such a certificate could be applied for, for example, by:
- Bolesławiec Ceramics producers,
- lace makers from Koniaków,
- creators selling products made of Gdańsk amber,
- glass producers from Krosno.
Currently – as she indicated – an information campaign has already started, during which the Patent Office will explain to interested parties what the registration process is and what conditions must be met to obtain such a document. She emphasized that the protection system is an opportunity for the reviving Polish crafts.
We want Polish craft and industrial products to gain a European brand and recognition, such as Porcelaine de Limoges or Murano Glass, she said.
She noted that so far, mainly large companies reserved their designs or the right to use specific names. – Currently, consumers increasingly appreciate what is local and ecological, and the development of tourism contributes to an increase in demand for products that are not mass-produced – she noted. She added that online stores also have a significant impact on the interest in unique products, as they allow you to order goods from almost anywhere in the world.
When asked whether the Patent Office is ready to accept applications for the protection of geographical indications, Szymańska-Rybak informed that the appropriate form can be downloaded from the Office's website, which should be completed and returned.
Preparing such an application, compliant with EU requirements, will take some time, because we must now carefully prepare the specification, i.e., for example, determine all the properties that the protected product should have, as well as determine the boundaries of the regions where the protection will apply.
In turn, when asked about the effectiveness of the protection of geographical indications, the expert stated that the system will allow the fight against counterfeits to be much more effective. The example she gave is pottery from Bolesławiec, which has been widely counterfeited in recent years. – JIf, for example, Bolesławiec was granted a geographical indication, it could go to court and obtain, for example, a court ban on its sale, or even an order to destroy counterfeit products, and of course, it could obtain an order to pay monetary compensation. – Szymańska-Rybak explained.
When asked about the costs of obtaining a certificate, she pointed out that fees in the EU system must favor small and medium-sized enterprises, so if they exist, they will be rather small.
The registration system in the system of geographical indications will be two-stage: in the first national stage, the manufacturer submits an application to the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland, which verifies it formally and substantively. The second stage takes place at the EU level: after a positive national assessment, the documentation is transferred to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), which carries out further registration activities.
For craftsmen and creators, the new system means: protection of their achievements and crafts, greater recognition in Europe, and the possibility of promoting their products as products of protected origin. However, for consumers it is a guarantee of authenticity and quality. Moreover, the system will support tradition and local cultural heritage. (PAP)
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