Brands, Geographical Origin, and the Global Economy A History from the Nineteenth Century to the Present

Indications of geographic origin for foodstuffs and manufactures have become an important source of brand value since the beginnings of globalization during the late nineteenth century. In this work, David M. Higgins explores the early nineteenth-century business campaigns to secure national and international protection of geographic brands. He shows how these efforts culminated in the introduction of legal protocols which protect such brands, including, 'Champagne', 'Sheffield', 'Swiss made' watches and 'Made in the USA'. Higgins explores the major themes surrounding these indications, tying in the history of global marketing and the relevant laws on intellectual property. He also questions the effectiveness of European Union policy to promote 'regional' and 'local' foods and why such initiatives brought the EU in conflict with North America, especially the US He extends the study with a reflection on contemporary issues affecting globalization, intellectual property, less developed countries, and supply chains.

1. Geographic origin in the global economy; 2. Firms, indications of geographic origin in the first global economy; 3. Country of origin and agricultural trade during the nineteenth century; 4. Cooperation, country of origin, and agricultural trade during the interwar period; 5. 'Unfair competition' and the British Merchandise Marks Act, 1926; 6. From Paris to London: the international legal framework for the protection of IGOs, c.1880–1945; 7. The evolving international framework for the protection of IGOs after 1945; 8. EU Policy on geographical indications: ambitious, but misguided?; 9. 'Made in' and 'Country of Origin' in the post-1945 period; 10. Reflections on the history of IGOs.

David M. Higgins is a Professor of Accounting and Finance at Newcastle University Business School.