The registration of a Geographical Indication helps preserve the uniqueness and specialty of the product of the particular Geographical Indication. It also prevents the persons not being a part of the Geographical Indication territory and/or using the particular process of manufacturing from using the goodwill of the genuine Geographical Indication. It also helps promoting the product and boosts the exports.

The registered proprietor gets legal protection for the use of Geographical Indication. It gives an exclusive right for manufacturing, producing and processing the particular product to the authorized user registered under the Geographical Indication. The registered proprietor also gets the right to sue for infringement.

Any association of persons, producers, organisation or authority representing the interest of the producers, manufacturers and processors of the Geographical Indication proposed for filing to the Registrar of Geographical Indications in the prescribed form and with the prescribed fee.

The Geographical Indication is valid for a period of 10 years and it can be renewed for another 10 years.

The simple answer is NO. It is interesting to note that a Geographical Indication cannot be subject to any of the aforesaid including but not limited to assignment, transmission, licensing, mortgage, pledge. The Geographical Indication is a right belonging to the producer of that particular products’ manufacturer, processor, producer etc. only.

Any producer falling under the category of or is in consonance with the registered Geographical Indication is eligible to apply adhering to the laid down procedure remitting the prescribed fee.

Any association of persons, producers, organisation or authority registered with the Registrar of Geographical Indications as registered proprietor for the particular Geographical Indication (GI). Generally, a proprietor of GI is a legal entity which represents a group of individuals.

Despite the name of any product denoting it is the place of origin but has at the same time become a customary name for such product in other geographical territories. In such a scenario such indication may amount to a Geographic Indication in a territory while the same might be a generic term in another territory.

In case any person passes off his/her product to be originated from the territory of the original registered Geographical Indication an action of Infringement can be brought against such person. Also, in case any person misrepresents the product to have been originated in a Geographical area other than the one registered under the Geographical Indication can be charged with Infringement.

Trademark and Geographical Indication are two different Intellectual Property Rights that are registrable by IP laws in India. A Trademark helps a person to maintain a unique identity with the help of a sign in order to distinguish its goods or services from that of others. Trademark gives right to protection of name, symbol, label, shape, logo etc. in a particular territory. A Geographical Indication is an indicator which suggests the uniqueness of the goods with respect to the geographic territory it has been produced, manufactured, processed etc.