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In addition, when with an authorization for use with respect to a distinctive sign, technicalknowledge is also transferred or technical assistance is provided so that the personto whom it is granted can produce or sell goods or provide services uniformly and withthe operational, commercial, and administrative methods established by the holder of thetrademark, thereby maintaining the quality, prestige, and image of the products or servicesit distinguishes, this constitutes the legal institution of the franchise.4. Appellation of Origin214C H A P T E R X I IAn appellation of origin is the name of a geographic region of the country that serves todesignate a product originating from there, the quality and characteristics of which arethe result of geography, including therein natural and human factors.The protection that the LPI grants to appellations of origin is initiated with a declarationto that effect issued by the IMPI. Such a declaration of protection will be made ex oficioor at the request of the individuals or entities that engage directly in the extraction,production, or preparation of the product related to the appellation of origin, the manufactureror producer associations, or the agencies or entities of the federal governmentor the state and Federal District governments.The request for a declaration of protection must be made in writing and be accompaniedby evidence supporting the petition. Given that the obtaining of this declaration ofprotection involves compliance with the requirements established in the LPI, the IMPI willexamine the information and documents contributed and may request the petitioner tomake any necessary clarifications or additions (for which the latter will have a term of twomonths). Subsequently, if once the studies are done and the evidence is presented, theInstitute decides to grant the protection of the appellation of origin, it will issue a declarationand publish it in the Official Federal Gazette.To date the IMPI has granted protection as appellations of origin to 12 Mexican products:tequila, Olinalá boxes (small decorated wooden boxes), mezcal, talavera (pottery)from Puebla, bacanora (distilled alcohol made from a particular agave plant), coffee fromVeracruz, amber from Chiapas, charanda (alcoholic beverage made from sugar cane),sotol (type of pulque, which is an alcoholic beverage made from the maguey plant), mangoAtaulfo from Soconusco, coffee from Chiapas, and Cotija cheese.This declaration of protection does not have any specific time limit. It will depend onthe survival of the conditions that brought about the protection to begin with. In thatrespect, the protection conferred on an appellation of origin will only take effect oncethe IMPI issues a declaration thereof.It is important to emphasize that in contrast to other distinctive signs (such as trademarksor slogans), the appellation of origin is not held by one private party; rather it belongsto the Mexican State, which as title holder thereof will grant authorizations for its use.