Geographic Indications and the Amazon: from original and traditional cultures to intellectual property

Abstract

This article approaches with the granting of geographical indication to products originating in the northern region of Brazil. For doing that, the objective of this research highlights how important is the registration and the seal from Intellectual Property National Institute (INPI) for local development, preservation of the culture of indigenous and non-indigenous peoples, preservation of the environment and the valorization of products with regional specificities. On that way, the main documentary source of the research was the analysis of the contents of the INPI Technical Data Sheets, which provide data on the specificities of the products and their direct relationship with the geographic area, in addition to bibliographical research. The study proves that although geographic concessions are recent in the Amazon region, they boost regional development and encourage new requests for concessions, as well as the formation of cooperatives and associations in favor of heritage safeguarding.