114. The representative of Australia associated herself with the statement by Argentina. There was no point in "comparing apples and oranges" because WTO Members were obliged equally to implement their TRIPS obligations on trademarks and geographical indications. To that extent, there was an equal legal effect flowing from the TRIPS obligations but there was no comparison to be made between registration of trademarks by each individual WTO Member at the national level and what the Council was discussing, which was a multilateral system of notification and registration of geographical indications for wines and spirits. If a comparison were to be made, it would be more appropriate to refer to some of the WIPO notification registration systems where, in her delegation's view, there was no direct legal effect and each participating country in those systems retained its right to determine whether protection would be granted in its territory.
