The document provides a comprehensive overview of geographical indications (GI), which are signs used on products that originate from specific geographical locations, ensuring quality and origin. It discusses the types of GIs, their importance, legal frameworks, and protection mechanisms under international treaties, especially focusing on the situation in India and Tamil Nadu. The document also highlights the benefits of GI protection, the registration process, challenges faced, and examples of Indian GIs.

1. Geographical Indications
Abisha.S.J
Prathisha.R

2. Outline
Geographical Indications (GI)
Types of GI
Why GI needs to be protected?
Advantages of GI
How are GIs Protected?
WIPO and GI
GI in India
Registration process
GI in Tamil Nadu

3. What is Geographical Indication?
Geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on
certain products which corresponds to a specific
geographical location or origin (e.g. a town, region, or
country)
Examples: Basmati rice, Swiss watches etc

5. “Porto”, “Havana”, “Tequila” and “Darjeeling are some well-
known examples of names associated throughout the world with
products of a certain nature and quality, known for their
geographical origin and for having characteristics linked to that
origin.

6. Can geographical indications only be used for
agricultural products?

7. HISTORY OF GI
• First GI system used in France –
20th century--appellation d'origine
contrôlée (AOC).
– Items that meet geographical
origin and quality standards
may be endorsed with a
government-issued stamp which
acts as official certification of the
origins and standards of the
product to the consumer.
– E.g: Gruyere cheese (from
Switzerland) and many French
wine
7

8. Geographical indications have long been
associated with the concept of terroir and
with Europe as an entity, where there is a tradition of
associating certain food products with particular regions

9. Under European Union Law, the protected designation of
origin framework which came into effect in 1992 regulates the
following systems of geographical indications:
 Protected designation of origin (PDO),
Protected geographical indication (PGI) and
Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSG)
EU quality logos

10. Protected designations of origin
(PDO):
covers agricultural products and
foodstuffs which are produced,
processed and prepared in a
given geographical area using
recognised know-how.
(require all stages of the food
production process to be carried
out in the area concerned)
“Huile d’olive de Nyons” and
“Shetland lamb”
Types of GI

11. Protected Geographical Indication
(PGI):
covers agricultural products and
foodstuffs closely linked to the
geographical area. At least one of the
stages of production, processing or
preparation takes place in the area,
while the raw materials used in
production may come from another
region
Eg- Arancia Rossa di Sicilia”
Traditional Specialties Guaranteed
(TSG):
highlights traditional character,
either in the composition or means of
production.

12. So, what is the difference?
A certain product could potentially obtain a PDO if all the stages
of production, processing and preparation are carried out in a
defined geographical area.
If one of this stages is done outside this geographical area (for
example, packaging) the product could obtain a PGI.
 If the product and its ingredients are not directly linked to a
specific geographical area, but traditionally the know-how or
composition is recognised, the product could obtain a TSG.

13. Why GI is to be protected
Denote quality and origin of products
Good reputation for the product
Preventing the product from generic products
Protecting the domestic market from competitors

14. Advantages of GI
Legal protection and preventing from unauthorized use
Benefits for farmers and local producers
Boost the rural development
Reduces unfair practices of trade
Preserving local culture and resources
Provides complete information to consumers

15. How are GIs protected
In accordance with international treaties and national laws
under a wide range of concepts:
special laws for the protection of geographical indications or
appellations of origin
trademark laws in the form of collective marks or certification
marks
laws against unfair competition
consumer protection laws, or
specific laws or decrees that recognize individual
geographical indications.

16. CONDITIONS TO GET GI
 It relates to a good although, in some countries, services
are also included;
 These goods/services must originate from a defined area;
 The goods/services must have qualities, reputations or
other characteristics which are clearly linked to the
geographical origin of goods.
16

17. The following are the prohibitions to
registration of certain GI:-
the use of which would be likely to
deceive or cause confusion; or
the use of which would be contrary to
any law for the time being in force;or
which comprises or contains
scandalous or obscene matter; or
What cannot be registered under GI

18. which comprises or contains any matter likely to hurt the
religious susceptibilities of any class or section of the
citizens of India; or
which are determined to generic names or indications of
goods and are, therefore, not or ceases to be protected in
their country of origin, or which have fallen in to disuse in
that country; or
which, although literally true as to the territory, region or
locality in which the goods originate, but falsely represent to
the persons that the goods originate in another territory,
region or locality, as the case may be.

19. The unique blue cheese
from France is aged in
natural caves around the
Roquefort-sur-Soulzon
region and protected
using geographical
indications.
The Pinggu district
north of Beijing,
China, bills itself as the
biggest peach farm in
the world, providing
employment for over
150,000 people
Roquefort cheese
Pinggu peaches

20. International Agreements and
Organizations on Geographical
Indications

21. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is
the global forum for intellectual property services, policy,
information and cooperation.
Role of WIPO
It is an international organization
dedicated to ensuring the rights of
creators and owners of the
intellectual property are protected
worldwide, and the inventors and
authors are thus recognized and
rewarded for their ingenuity

22. International treaties: part or entire protection of
geographical indications.
WIPO and GI
Relevant treaties administered by WIPO
Paris Convention
Madrid Agreement for the Repression of
False or Deceptive Indications of Source on
Goods
Lisbon Agreement
Protocol Relating to the Madrid
Agreement
Overview of the TRIPS Agreement on the
WTO website

23. Paris Convention for the Protection
of Industrial Property
The Paris Convention, adopted
in 1883, applies to industrial
property in the widest sense, the
repression of unfair competition.
This international agreement was
the first major step taken to help
creators ensure that their
intellectual works were protected
in other countries.
Madrid Agreement for the
Repression of False or Deceptive
Indications of Source on Goods
According to the Madrid Agreement,
all goods bearing a false or deceptive
indication of source, must be seized
on importation, or such importation
must be prohibited, or other actions
and sanctions must be applied in
connection with such importation

24. Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the
International Registration of Marks (which also provides for the
international registration of certification marks)
Lisbon Agreement for the
Protection of Appellations of
Origin and their International
Registration

25. The TRIPS Agreement - (came into effect on 1
January 1995):
addresses the international protection of GIs
within the framework of the World Trade Organization
(WTO)
The three main features of the Agreement are
Standards
Enforcement
Dispute Settlement
.

26. Through the work of the Standing Committee on the Law of
Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications
(SCT) is the forum where WIPO's member states discuss
policy and legal issues relating to the international
development of law and standards for geographical
indications and appellations of origin.
The WIPO international/worldwide Symposia, (held every
two years).
WIPO GOLD is a free public resource which provides a one-
stop gateway to WIPO’s global collections of searchable IP
data.
Delegates at a meeting of the
SCT (Photo: WIPO).

27. WIPO GOLD

28. GI in India
In India the Geographical
Indications of Goods
(Registration and
Protection) Act, 1999 came
in force with effect from
September 2003.

29. Producers dealing with the
following three categories of goods
can apply:
Agricultural Goods includes
the production, processing,
trading or dealing
 Natural Goods includes
exploiting, trading or dealing
 Handicrafts or Industrial
goods include making,
manufacturing, trading or
dealing
Process of registration in India:

30. Productwise distribution of GIs
registered in India till 15 August
2009
Product category No. of registered GIs
1. Handicrafts 73
2. Agricultural Products 24
3. Manufactured Products 6
4. Horticulture 2
5. Foodstuff 1
Total GIs registered 106

31. How to apply
The application must be filed at the Office of the GI Registry located
in Chennai
Geographical Signification of the Indication
Class of goods
Geographical Area
Details of the appearance
Particulars of the producers
Affidavit deposing the Applicant’s right to become the
Registrant
Geographical Indications Registry
Intellectual Property Office Building
Industrial Estate, G.S.T Road
Guindy, Chennai – 600 032
Ph: 044 – 22502091-93 & 98
Fx : 044 – 22502090
E-mail: gir-ipo@nic.in
Website : ipindia.gov.in

32.  The Registrar will have the Application examined.
 Published in the GI journal.
 Notice of Opposition within a maximum period of four months
of publication in the Journal.
 If the Registrar accepts the Application then a certificate of
registration issued.

36. The registration of a
geographical indication is valid
for a period of 10 years.
It can be renewed from time to
time for further period of 10
years each.
If a registered geographical
indication is not renewed it is
liable to be removed from the
register.

37. Challenges
• Low brand value
• Lack of awareness of rules &
regulations.
• rampant misuse of Indian Gis.
• Immigration of labors.

38. Why are geographical indications valuable?
• GIs are a marketing tool
• Reputation for quality associated with place name used on
labels, advertising
• GI-identified products are believed to command higher
prices
• Of particular interest to developing countries

39. Geographical indications and trademarks
• GIs are closely related to trademarks; both
indicate product origin
• GIs and trademarks differ in two ways:
1. A trademark belongs to a particular company; it
distinguishes that company’s products. GIs are
shared by all producers in the region identified
by the GI.
2. GIs attach to a location; trademarks don’t.

40. Basmati Rice
Darjeeling Tea
Kanchipuram Silk Saree
Alphanso Mango
Nagpur Orange
Kolhapuri Chappal
Bikaneri Bhujia
Agra Petha
Examples of Indian GIs

41. 143 INDIAN TAGS FROM TAMIL NADU

42. Oddanchatram vegetables
Kancheepuram Silk
Bhavani Jamakkalam
Madurai Sungudi
Bidriware
Coimbatore Wet Grinder
Thanjavur painting
Thanjavur Art Plate
Kovai Cora Cotton
Swamimalai Bronze Icons
Nagercoil temple jewellery
Tanjavur dancing doll
Nilgiri tea
Dindugul lock

43. Reference
Sahai, S., I. Barpujari. 2007. Are geographical indications
better suited to protect indigenous knowledge? A
developing country perspective, New Delhi: Gene
Campaign.
http://www.genecampaign.org/
home_files/Gene_Briefing/Policy%20Brief-2.pdf, accessed
on December 22, 2012. WTO. 2004.
Exploring the Linkage between the Domestic Policy
Environment and International Trade,
http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/anrep_e/
world_trade_report04_e.pdf, accessed on January 16,
2013.
Rangnekar, D. 2004. The socio-economics of
geographical indications, BRIDGES between Trade and
Sustainable Development, Vol. 8 No. 8, pp 20-21.
 Rangnekar, D. 2009. Geographical indications and
Localisation: A case study of Feni United Kingdom: Centre
for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation,
University of Warwick