Proposals to extend geographical identification (GI) protection beyond food, so that Portland stone might be as protected as Melton Mowbray pork pies or Champagne from pretenders using the name, has received support from much (although not all) of the stone industry.
Stone Federation, the Minerals Products Association and English Stone Forum all made representations supporting the idea when it was out for consultation at the end of last year (read more here).
Whether anything comes of it remains to be seen and in the nature of beuracracy if anything does come of it, it wil be a long time before anything happens.
Nevertheless, if you are interested in pursuing the idea in more detail, the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy & Management (CIPPM) at Bournemouth University is holding an all day symposium on the subject today (11 September).
It aims to provide some understanding of the theoretical and practical implications of the developments of EU legislation in this field, and will discuss the challenges and opportunities that could follow the extension of GI protection in the EU to non-agricultural products.
The event has attracted some top-notch intellects, bringing together researchers, GI producers, UK and European institutions and policy makers. They will debate key issues for the prospects of GI legislation in the EU.