Rebreeding geographical indications beyond agriculture: of “genotype” and “phenotype” in territorial products

The EU reform for extending sui generis rights on geographical indications to non-agricultural products offers the chance to rethink the current regime. In order to tackle compromises and contradictions deriving from the narrative paradigm of reputation, the system should be arguably refounded on effective quality in terms of territorial “causal” link. In this context, here it is proposed to look at plant variety rights – borrowing the notions of genotype and phenotype, as well as the “DUS” requirements of distinctiveness, stability and uniformity – as a thought-provoking interpretation for reflecting on the proper merit of protection of geographical indications as an autonomous (and precious) IP title