IPR Attorney / Geographical Indications
50 — Geographical Indications · Filed. Registered. Defended.
A geographical indication identifies goods as originating from a specific region, where a given quality, reputation or characteristic is essentially attributable to that place of origin — think Darjeeling Tea or Kanchipuram Silk. GIs are registered by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai under the GI Act, 1999.
FIG. 6 — Place of origin & linked quality
What Qualifies
Under Section 2(1)(e) of the GI Act, an indication qualifies when it identifies agricultural, natural, or manufactured goods as originating in a region, and a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the goods is essentially attributable to that geographical origin.
A GI is a collective right — it's typically registered by an association of producers, a statutory body, or an organisation representing the interests of producers in that region, rather than by a single private applicant.
How a GI Proceeds
An application under Section 11 sets out the goods, the geographical area, and the link between them.
The Registry scrutinises the application; a show-cause notice issues if it doesn't meet the Act's requirements.
Once objections are resolved, the application is accepted for publication.
The GI is advertised in the GI Journal for a statutory opposition period.
If unopposed, the GI is entered in the Register and a certificate is issued, valid for 10 years.
Frequently Asked
Tell us the product, the region, and the producer group behind it — GI applications are collective filings and we'll help structure that from the outset.