Be aware from (ab)using the protected designation of origin. Case: “Sharri Cheese”

The Association of Sharri Cheese Producers, represented by the President Mr. Faton Xhabale, has signed the Agreement on Legal Representation by Attorney at Law Veli Hoti, LexTrust LLC.

This Agreement confirms the Attorney at Law Hoti, has the full Authorization to initiate any legal or judicial, administrative procedures, and any negotiation with certain parties, against all those infringing, abusing, and/or violating any rights by legal subjects of the Protected Designation of Origin named “Sharri Cheese” (Djathi i Sharrit in Albanian). Sharri Cheese is registered by the Decision No. Reg: 01, No. KS/TGj-EO/2020/4699 of the Industrial Property Agency, within the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade.

Pursuant to Article 12 (Scope of protection) of Law No. 05/l-051 for geographical indications and designations of origin, registered designations of origin or geographical indications shall be protected against:

  • any direct or indirect commercial use of products that have not been registered as long as these products are comparable to products registered under the designation of origin, or as long as the use of the designation of origin or geographical indication exploits the reputation of the designation of origin or protected geographical indication.
  • any misuse, imitation or evocation, even if the true origin of the product is indicated or if the name of the designation of origin or the geographical indication is translated or transliterated or is accompanied by expressions such as “style”, “type”, ” method”, “as produced in”, “imitation”, or others similar to them.
  • any incorrect or misleading indication as to the origin, origin, nature or essential qualities of the product, in the inner or outer packaging, in the advertising materials or documents for the product, and the packaging of the product in the container that tends to give wrong impression as to origin;
  • any other action that may mislead the consumer as to the true origin of the product.

LexTrust LLC is specialized in the field of intellectual property rights, including Geographical Indications and Designations of Origin. Attorney Hoti as an Authorized Representative in the Field of Industrial Property is the Authorized Representative for the Association of the Sharri Cheese Producers in the application, registration,
opposition, and is authorized to use of any necessary legal means as the result of the registration of the Designation of the Origin “Sharr cheese”.