Geographical Indications (GI)

Understanding Geographical Indications

Across history, certain products have become famous because of the region where they were grown, made, crafted, or traditionally developed. Indian spices attracted explorers from Europe; Arabian horses became renowned for their breeding qualities; and products such as Chinese silk, Dhaka muslin and Venetian glass earned worldwide recognition.

These products did not become famous overnight. Their reputation was built over generations through a unique combination of local resources, climate, traditional knowledge, craftsmanship and human skill. Over time, a strong connection developed between the product and the geographical region from which it originated. This connection is what forms the foundation of a Geographical Indication (GI).

India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 to establish a legal framework for registering and protecting such indications. The Act came into force on 15 September 2003 and is administered through the Geographical Indications Registry under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.

About Geographical Indications

A Geographical Indication is an intellectual property right that identifies goods as originating from a particular country, region or locality where a specific quality, reputation, characteristic or other attribute of the goods is essentially connected with that geographical origin. In simple terms, a GI tells consumers: “This product comes from this particular place, and its distinctive identity is connected to that place.”

A GI may relate to agricultural products, natural products, handicrafts or manufactured goods. The uniqueness of such goods may arise from the region's climate, soil, natural resources, traditional techniques, indigenous knowledge, craftsmanship, or a combination of these factors.

Geographical Indications form an important part of the international intellectual property system. They are recognised under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and receive specific protection under Articles 22–24 of the TRIPS Agreement. As a member of the WTO, India introduced its dedicated GI legislation to protect India's geographically distinctive products.

Our Vision & Mission

The Geographical Indications Registry works towards strengthening the protection and promotion of India's geographically distinctive products. The mission is to:

• Protect the identity and reputation of registered Geographical Indications.
• Prevent unauthorised use and misleading representation of GI names.
• Preserve traditional knowledge, craftsmanship and production practices.
• Support producers associated with recognised geographical regions.
• Encourage quality, authenticity and consistency in GI products.
• Contribute to the economic development of producer communities.
• Strengthen recognition of Indian GI products in domestic and international markets.

What is a Geographical Indication?

Under Indian law, a Geographical Indication in relation to goods generally refers to an indication that:

• Identifies goods with a particular geographical territory.
• Originates from a clearly defined region, locality or country.
• Relates to agricultural, natural or manufactured products.
• For manufactured goods, is produced, processed or prepared in the specified territory.
• Possesses a distinctive quality, reputation or characteristic associated with its geographical origin.

Why register a Geographical Indication?

1. Legal protectionStatutory protection to the GI under Indian law.
2. Protection against misusePrevents unauthorised parties from using the registered GI for products that don't originate from the specified region.
3. Preserving India's GI heritageSafeguards traditional products and geographically distinctive goods.
4. Support for exportsStrengthens credibility and market identity of Indian GI products internationally.
5. Economic developmentImproves market opportunities and contributes to the prosperity of producer communities.
6. Preservation of traditional knowledgeHelps maintain traditional production methods, craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

Who can apply for GI registration?

An application may be submitted by:

• An association of persons
• An association of producers
• An organisation
• An authority established by or under law

The applicant must genuinely represent the interests of the producers concerned. The application must be submitted in the prescribed form and in writing, include the required supporting documents, and be accompanied by the applicable fee.

Who is the registered proprietor?

The registered proprietor is the association of persons, producers, organisation or authority whose name is entered in the Register of Geographical Indications as the proprietor of the registered GI. The proprietor represents the collective interests associated with the GI rather than owning the geographical indication in the same manner as a conventional private trademark owner.

Who is an Authorised User?

An authorised user is a producer who has the right to use a registered Geographical Indication. A producer seeking authorised-user status must:

• Be a producer of goods covered by the registered GI
• Apply in the prescribed manner
• Submit the required documents
• Pay the applicable prescribed fee

Authorised-user registration helps distinguish legitimate producers from unauthorised users of the GI.

Who is considered a producer?

What cannot be registered as a GI?

A GI generally cannot be registered where:

• Its use is likely to deceive or confuse consumers.
• Its registration or use would be contrary to applicable law.
• It contains scandalous or obscene matter.
• It contains matter likely to hurt religious sensibilities of a section of Indian citizens.
• It would otherwise be denied protection by a court.
• It has become a generic name or has fallen into disuse in its country of origin.
• Although technically accurate, it gives consumers a false impression that the goods originate from another territory.

Validity and renewal

A registered GI is protected for 10 years from the date of application. It may be renewed for successive 10-year periods on filing the required documents and paying the prescribed fee.

Application filing requirements

1. Application form & signatureFiled in the prescribed GI form with the applicable fee, signed by the applicant or authorised agent, in the required number of copies, along with the Statement of Case.
2. Payment of feesMay be paid by cash (where applicable), money order, bank draft or cheque meeting the Registry's prescribed requirements.
3. Document formatPrepared in Hindi or English, clearly typed/printed on good-quality paper, with prescribed margins and adequate line spacing. A4 size with ~12-point font is generally recommended.
4. Who should sign?Association: authorised signatory. Company/Organisation: Chief Executive, MD, Secretary or authorised principal officer. Partnership: at least one partner. Name and capacity must be clearly mentioned below the signature.
5. Principal place of businessApplicant's principal place of business in India (and, for corporates, director details) is required. Foreign applicants must provide an address for service in India.
6. Convention applicationsWhere priority is claimed, include certification from the convention country, details of the foreign application, filing date and application number.
7. Statement of userApplication must contain the required statement of use, supported by an affidavit where prescribed.
8. What the application should containOrigin/distinctiveness, product classification, geographical map, representation of the GI, producer details, product standards, quality-control mechanism, geographical/environmental factors, inspection structure and homonymous-indication details.

GI registration process

Classification of goods

For GI registration purposes, goods are classified according to the relevant international classification system. The principal classes include:

GI: Protecting the identity of a place

A Geographical Indication is more than a name on a product. It represents the relationship between a product, its people and its place of origin. The strength of a GI lies in the story behind the product — the land, climate, traditional knowledge, local skills, cultural practices and generations of producers who have contributed to its reputation.

Effective GI protection helps achieve three important objectives:

• Protect the place.
• Protect the product.
• Protect the people who preserve its legacy.