CHAPTER-VII

LEGAL PROTECTION OF
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION IN INDIA
7.1 Introduction
Over the recent past, Geographical Indications (GI) have emerged as a significant
form of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issue in the Indian context.

GI helps a

community of producers to differentiate their products from competing products in the

market and build goodwill around their products, often fetching a premium price. From
consumers point of view, GIs act as a signalling device, which helps them identify
genuine quality-products and also protect them against counterfeits. In view of their
commercial potential, adequate legal protection of GIs becomes necessary to prevent
their misappropriation. Although India has had in its possession a considerable number
of products that could qualify for legal protection as geographical designators, the
initiatives to exploit this potential begun only recently when the country established as
sui generis system of GI protection with the enactment of the Geographical Indications
of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, coupled with the Geographical
Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002. The Act, which became
operational with effect from 15 September 2003, was drafted as part of the exercise in the
country to set in place national IPR laws as much in compliance with Indias obligations
under the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) of
the World Trade Organisation (WTO) so as to take advantage of the minimum
standards of GI protection that the TRIPs sets out for the WTO members to comply with
in their respective national legislations.

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7.2 An overview of GI protection in India
In India, the legal system for GI protection has very recently been developed. The
Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act was enacted in 1999
and has come into force in September 2003 (hereafter called GI Act). Before this act,
there was no separate legislation for GIs specifically. However, there were three
alternative ways in which the then existing legal systems of the country could be utilised
for preventing the misuse of GIs.
(i)

under the consumer protection laws;

(ii)

through passing off action in courts; and

(iii)

through certification trademarks.1

Among these laws, certification trademarks (CTM) were more focused on

recognised and protecting indication of sources. In the Indian context, the most common
geographical name protected under the CTM system, prior to the GI Act, was
Darjeeling Tea.2 A certification trademark is understood as a mark administered by a
proprietor who certifies the goods as to their origin, material, mode of manufacture, or
performance of services, quality accuracy or other characteristics, and thereupon allows
use of the mark.
Under the CTM system, a proprietor of the mark who proposes to merely
administer the mark but not use it him or herself, applies for the registration of the same
together with a set of elaborate regulations detailing the process of certification for the
use of the mark in relation to the goods in question. It is absolutely imperative in the

Kasturi Das, Socio-Economic Implications of Protecting Geographical Indications in India, August 2009,
Centre for WTO Studies, p.6.
2
The Tea Board of India has registered the name Darjeeling as a Certification Mark in India, USA and
UK.

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CTM system that the person claiming proprietorship over the mark does not him or
herself use the same in conjunction with his or her goods or services. It is therefore
usual to find that a central agency or association usually administer the mark in question
and acts as the certifying authority, which in turn authorises the use of the mark by
producers/manufacturers in relation to their own goods. Certification trade marks can
be registered under the Trade Marks Act of India.
It may be noted that India has recently established a silk mark to certify
genuineness of silk textiles in India and Darjeeling, a certification marks for a specific
type of Tea produced in Darjeeling and can be marketed, provided the product satisfies
the set quality standards. Similarly, WOOL MARK certifies that the goods on which it
is used are made of 100% wool and LABEL ROUGE use for high quality agricultural
products in France.3
In its simplest form, the principle of passing-off states that No-one is entitled to
pass off his goods as those of another. The principal purpose of an action against
passing off is therefore, to protect the name, reputation and goodwill of traders or
producers against any unfair attempt to free ride on them. Though, India, like many
other common law countries, does not have a statute specifically dealing with unfair
competition, most of such acts of unfair competition can be prevented by ways of action
against passing off.
In India, GIs have been governed by common law principles, which enable an
aggrieved person to file an action of passing off for protection of his right. In other
words, it is based on usage and common knowledge about the characteristic features and

Dr.Prabhuddha Ganguli, WTC Research study Report Geographical Indications its evolving controls,
Jan. 2009, p.4.

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quality or reputation that the product has already earned in the market either by publicity
or by its presence in the market. A survey of decided cases reveals that Indian courts
have maintained the action of passing off to protect GIs. 4 Scotch Whisky Association v.
Pravara Sahakar Karkhana Ltd.,5 is a leading case on this subject. In this case, the
plaintiff Scotch Whisky Association, a company incorporated under the Companies Act
of United Kingdom instituted the passing off action against the defendants- a
manufacturer of various brands of Indian Whisky like blended scotch whisky or
Blended with Scotch under various brand names, Drum Beater and God Tycoon. On
these facts, the Bombay High Court held: The Plaintiff had sufficient interest to prevent
passing off of Indian Whisky manufactured by the defendant and to prevent damage to
reputation and goodwill of Scotch whisky. The defendants were passing off their goods
as blended Scotch whisky which in fact they were not. The case therefore merited
interim injunction.

The defendants resorted to unfair means by using the words

Blended with Scotch and indulged in colourable imitation and unfair trading in an
attempt to harvest unjust benefits by appropriation of plaintiffs goodwill. The defendant
was restrained from advertising or offering for sale or distributing in any country
Whisky, which is not Scotch whisky.
It is evident from the aforesaid decision that the judiciary in India has consistently
extended the umbrella of legal protection to GIs even in the absence of any legislation in
force at that point of time.

Tushar Kanti Saha and Nalin Bharti, Beyond Wines and Spirits: Developing Countries GI Products and
their Potential in WTO Regime with Special Reference to India, Journal of Intellectual Properly Rights,
Vol.11, March 2006, p.892.
5
AIR 1992 Bom 294.

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7.3 Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 An
analysis
7.3.1 Historical background of the GI Act
The need for separate legislation for GIs in form of the GI Act was felt in India
due to some important reasons.
7.3.1.1 Socio-Economic Perspective
Geographical Indications are intellectual property rights. Their function is to
identify products on the market, similar to trademarks and trade names. Well protected
and pro-actively used, GIs are a very interesting marketing tool because they can convey
a lot of information from the producer to the consumer. GI give the producers of a region
the exclusive right to use the indication for their products originating from that region. It
also means that they have the right to prohibit any unauthorised use usurpation or
imitation of the sign on a product that is not from the designated area or which does not
have the qualities guaranteed by the GI.
Rooted in the soil of the region for which they stand, geographical indications
contribute to the socio-economic improvement of regions around the world. They create
employment, contribute to the regulation of the market and encourage the diversification
of production. In addition, they protect natural treasures and maintain the cultural
heritage.6

Much like trademarks, the economic rationale of GIs is based on the

information asymmetry between buyers and sellers in the market and role of reputation,
conveyed through distinctive signs, in talking such asymmetry.

Thus GI acts as a

signalling device that helps the producers to differentiate their products from competing
products in the market and enable them to build a reputation and goodwill around their
6

Felix Addor and Alexandra Grazioli, 2006, Federal Institute of Intellectual Property available at
http://www.ige.ch/e/jurinfo/j110110.shtm.

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products which often fetch a premium price. Finally, geographical indications contribute
to sustainable development. This makes them valuable to producers in both they wish to
offer their diverse products, identified by the GIs, on the globalised market. 7
Given its commercial potential the legal protection of GI assumes enormous
significance. Without such protection, competitors not having legitimate right on a GI
might ride free on its reputation. Such unfair business practice result in loss of revenue
for the genuine right holders of the GI and also misleads the consumers. Moreover, such
practices may eventually hamper the goodwill and reputation associated with the GI. In
order to rule out its misuse and to tap the potential economic and socio-economic benefits
emanating from this IP, it is essential to ensure an appropriate legal protection for GIs at
the national level.
7.3.1.2 Judicial perspectives
The issue of protection of GI gained particular interest and attention in India only
when a patent was obtained for Basmati Rice in the United States by the Rice Tec Inc.
and the widespread report of tea from other countries being passed off as Darjeeling Tea.
India realised that if it needed to protect its own geographical indications globally, it
needed to protect them at the national level to begin with.
7.3.1.2.1 Basmati Rice case
Basmati8 is a unique, long grain aromatic rice cultivated traditionally only in the
Indo-Gangetic plains of India and Pakistan. India has been exporting Basmati rice to
several countries of the world including the US, Europe and Middle East countries for

Kasturi Das, supra n. 1, p.2.

Etymologically, the origin of the word Basumati can be traced to the Sanskrit word Vasumati which
means earth. Just as smell and fragrance are closely associated with earth, basmati rice is recognised by its
unique aroma.

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several decades and a over a period of time, it has acquired a unique position in the world
market. The patenting of the world famous Basmati rice the crown jewel of the Asian
sub-continent India and Pakistan by the US Company Rice Tec Inc. woke India and many
other developing countries and made them aware of the unfair world market trend.
The Basmati which has extra long grain, soft textured, aromatic rice has been
cultivated since time immemorial in the foothills of the Himalayas. The rare agroclimatic conditions this region endow Basmati rice with certain characteristics, physical
and sensory, not found elsewhere nor amenable to replication.

This makes Basmati a

premium product in the international market and the uniqueness needs to be preserved
and protected.9
Basmati commands a premium price both in domestic and international markets.
Approximately one million hectares in India and 0.75 million hectares in Pakistan are
planted in Basmati varieties, where it is cultivated by hundreds and thousands of small
farmers.10
In India alone basmati exports were valued at approximately US$ 475 million in
1998-99. The serenity of the surroundings was suddenly broken by bold new headlines
which read US Rice Company says India and Pakistan dont own word Basmati. Ever
since the company, Rice Tec, based in Texas, United States, patented Basmati rice, there
has been a hue and cry in India and Pakistan. The fear of cultural piracy from the
western multinationals is felt by the Indian farmers. 11

Chandar M. Lal and Gayathri Jambunathan, India and Pakistan Geographical Indications the Basmati
issue. Submitted to the International Trademarks Association (INTA) Annual Meeting, Seattle May 1999,
http://www.iprlawindia.org.doc.
10
Suman Sahai Looking beyond Basmati, Economic and Political Weekly, February 21, 1998, p.371.
11
Fafi Geno Type The Basmati Rice Patent, 1998, http://www.rafi.organd, Berne Declaration press
packages (in German) Das Basmati Patent September, 1999, http://www.evb.cal.

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In February 1996, the APEDA12 has found that Rice Tec had registered for a
trademark for exporting what they called. Texasmati in the UK and had lodged a case
against Rice Tec in an UK economic court. Thus this was the authority strategy i.e., to
file such cases in all the countries that Rice Tec approaches for trademarks.
The first legal issue, which arose in the protection of Basmati as a geographical
indication is as to whether it is a generic name? Rice Tec in its claim states that it is a
generic name and therefore cannot be protected as a geographical indication.13
Various reports have referred to the US Companys use of such names as
Basmati, Kasmati, Jexamati and Jasmati.14 In fact, the company has used the
brand names Kasmati, Texmati, and Jasmati in the US and UK since before the patent
was issued. It has been using the term Basmati as a generic term for considerably
longer, Rice Jec has produced and marketed Texas Basmati and American Basmati rice
and labelling it as such for 20 years and exporting the products for 15 years with no
objection ever previously raised, the company stamen says.15
Since the word Basmati is not a place name, its validity as a geographical
indication would depend on whether Basmati can be shown to be closely and
exclusively associated with a geographical area, although the world trade agreement calls
it as geographic appellation.16
The name and the patent are completely separate issues; and there is also a
distinct difference between the use of Basmati as a generic term, and the use of brand
12

Agriculture Products Exports Development Authority.

This controversy was a result of the research prepared by an Indian scientist from the Indian Agricultural
Research Institute being used by Rice Tec to state that Basmati is a generic term and therefore cannot be
protected as a geographical indications. see Radhika Singa The Economic Times, New Delhi, August 11,
1998.
14
http://www.rediff.com/business/1998/mar/12rice.htm.
15
http://www.economictimes.com/today/12.
16
http://www.itd.or/issues/india6.htmm.
13

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names such as Texmati and Jasmati. Two types of intellectual property are involved with
names; Trademarks and Geographical Indications. 17
The concern what Indian authorities had was the fear of Rice Tec getting a
trademark on Texmati, Texmati is deceptively similar to Basmati and therefore cannot be
registered as a trademark. An action of passing off was also expected to succeed.
However this was only an immediate solution available to the problem in hand
since by virtue of Article 24.9 of the TRIPs Agreement, at that time India had no law
protecting GI. This prevented Indian from approaching the WTO dispute settlement
body and asking any other members country to protect our GI. Therefore the only hope
we Indians had was relying on tort protection of passing off and unfair competition laws
as usual.
It is extremely laborious to prove passing off repeatedly. Moreover, there was the
danger of the lack of the tort law (passing off) protection in the country where we seek to
protect our GI along with the fact that courts in US have been extremely unpredictable on
this issue This was the position of India which highlighted the need to legislate laws for
protection of GI in our country.18
7.3.1.2.2 Darjeeling Tea case
Darjeeling Tea could be considered as the most important geographical
indication along with Basmati for India. Darjeeling tea is the tea produced in the hilly
areas of Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
Today, India is the Worlds largest grower of tea with a total production of 826.17
million kilograms in the year 2002. The district of Darjeeling is situated in the State of
17

The use of place names or worlds associated with a place to identify the origin, type and quality of a
product for e.g.; champagne.
18
Ashwath U.Rao, Basmati Issue, http://www.iprlawindia.org.

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West Bengal, India.

Tea has been cultivated, grown and produced in tea gardens

geographically located in this area for the last 150 years. The unique and complex
combination of agro-climatic conditions prevailing in the region and the production
regulations imposed, lends the tea a distinctive and naturally-occurring quality and
flavour which has won the patronage and recognition of discerining consumers all over
the world for well over a century. The tea produced in the region and having special
characteristics is and has for long been known to the trade and the public all over the
words as Darjeeling tea.

19

According to records, the commercial tea gardens were

planted by British tea interests in 1852. Darjeeling was then only a sparsely populated
hamlet which was being used as a hill resort by the army and affluent people. However,
by 1866, Darjeeling had 39 gardens producing a total crop of 21,000 kilograms of tea
harvested from 4,400 hectares. By 1874, tea cultivation in Darjeeling was found to be a
profitable venture and there were 113 gardens with approximately 6000 hectares. Today,
nearly 17, 400 hectares in 85 tea gardens produce around 11.5 million kilograms of tea.20
The Easter and spring flushes have the unique Darjeeling flavour and command a
high price. Most of the tea coming on to the world market, as counterfeit Darjeeling
seems to be coming from Kenya and Srilanka. The other source is said to be Nepal.
Nepalese tea is produced in similar geographic conditioned to that of Darjeeling tea.
About 60 percent of Nepalese tea is exported to India and most of the Nepalese tea
estates gardens are owned by Indians. There are allegations that Nepalese tea is imported
in to India is repackaged as Darjeeling tea and exported Nepal is small produces and
exporter of tea in the world market.
19

Rajendra Kumar and Vasundhara Naik, Darjeeling Tea- Challenges in the Protection and Enforcement
of Intellectual Property Rights, http://www.wipolint/index.html.in
20
Ibid.

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What will happen if 40000 tons of counterfeit Darjeeling disappears from the
world market because of protection of the geographical indication for Darjeeling Tea?
We could expect the price of Darjeeling tea to go up depending on the price elasticity of
demand of Darjeeling tea, which will benefit the producers of Darjeeling tea.
1. counterfeit Darjeeling produced in India and consumed in India.
2. counterfeit Darjeeling produced in other countries consumed in India.
3. counterfeit Darjeeling produced in India and consumed outside India.
4. counterfeit Darjeeling produced in India and consumed out side India.21
Since Darjeeling has a high reputation, both the Tea Board and the Darjeeling
planters Association have been involved at various levels in protecting this common
heritage. The protection is essentially geared to:
(i)

Prevent misuse of the word Darjeeling for other types of tea sold worldwide.

(ii)

Deliver the authentic product to the consumer.

(iii)

Enable the commercial benefit of the equity of the brand to reach the
Indian industry and hence the plantation worker.

(iv)

Achieve international status similar to champagne or Scotch Whisky both

in terms of brand equity and governance/administration.

One of the first significant measures was taken by the Tea Board to protect
Darjeeling as a geographical indication about 15 years ago by developing a Darjeeling
Logo.

21

The Darjeeling logo created in 1983 has since been registered in various

Niranja Rao, Geographical Indications in Indian Context: A Case Study of Darjeeling Tea, Sept.2003,
working paper No.110, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, p.13.

226
jurisdictions including UK, USA, Canada, Japan and Egypt and some European countries
as a Trademark/Certification Trademark/collective Mark.
The Tea Board has obtained home protection by registering the Darjeeling
Logo and also the word Darjeeling as a certification mark under the Indian Trade and
Merchandise Marks Act, 1958.

Under the new Geographical Indication of Goods

(Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 (which has come in to force on September 15,
2003), the tea Board has also filed applications for the Darjeeling logo as well as
Darjeeling word to be registered as a geographical indication.22 Under the new Act
Darjeeling is registered as GI.
7.3.1.3 TRIPs and Protection for Darjeeling Tea
The TRIPs agreement will help in protecting the geographical indication
Darjeeling tea in the member countries of WTO. 23
Is Article 23 protection necessary for Darjeeling Tea?- What does the
geographical indication for Darjeeling tea lose by not having Article 23 protection?
Following are the various components of enhanced protection afforded by article 23.
1)

Article 23.1 mandates members to provide the legal means for interested parties to
prevent use of a geographical indication for products not originating in the place
indicated by the geographical indication in question, even where the true origin of
the goods is indicated In the absence of such protection for tea- it would be
possible for example, to use Darjeeling Tea with produce of Kenya. But the
producers of Kenya would not be able to use the Darjeeling tea logo if it is

22
23

Supra n.19
Article 22.

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protected in Kenya or it could be stopped at the boarder of the importing country if
the logo is protected in that country.
2)

Article 23.1 prohibits the use of geographical indication if the geographical

indication is used in translation. Lack of this protection in the case of tea may
not pose too much of a threat to Darjeeling tea because it is difficult to translate the
geographical name of Darjeeling. This may be true of all Indian geographical
indications.

3)

Article 23.1 prohibits the use of a geographical indication accompanied by

expressions such as kind, type, style, imitation the like. As this is not
applicable to tea, it would be possible for example, for tea producers of Kenya to
put the words Imitation of Darjeeling Tea on its tea products. But they cannot
use the Darjeeling tea Logo if it is protected in that country as stopped at the border
if it is protected in the country of importation; if they use the logo they are
infringing the geographical indication.

4)

Article 23.2 provides that the registration of a trademark for wines which contains
or consists of a geographical indication identifying wines or for spirits which
contain or consists of a geographical indication identifying spirits shall be refused
as invalidated, ex-officio if a members legislation so permits or at the request of an
interested party, with respect to such wines or spirits not having this origin. This is
not applicable to tea, but the protection afforded by Article 22.3 in respect of
trademarks seems to be sufficient. Article 23.2 merely asserts that in case of tea for
example, it is possible to grant a trademark, Hyderabad Tea, even when

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Hyderabad is a geographical indication and it is known that Hyderabad does not
produce any tea.
5)

Article 23.3 deals with homonymous geographical indications and provides that in
the case of homonymous geographical indications for wines, protection shall be
awarded to each indication. Homonymous geographical indications may not be
a problem for all most all geographical indications coming out of India not only for
tea but for all products.

6)

Article 23.3 provides for the establishment of a multilateral system of

notification and registration of geographical indications for wines eligible for
protection in those members participating in the system.

In fact a legally

enforceable multilateral system could be the only benefit from extension of Article
23 protection to other products.
The TRIPs agreement leaves it to the members to decide on the mode of
protection of geographical indications. The modes used by member countries to protect
geographical indications are; (1) a sui generis law; (2) certification or collect marks under
trademark law; (3) under unfair competition or consumer protection laws. In those
countries, which protect geographical indications under a sui generis law or certification
or collective marks under trademark law, it is possible to get protection for a logo
indicating the geographical indication. If the producers and exporters of the counterfeit
goods use the logo it will be an infringement and can be challenged in courts. Here the
producer of genuine product has just to prove that the producer of counterfeit producer
is not authorised to use the logo, as he does not produce it in the region, which the

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geographical indication logo suggests. If the producer and exporter of the counterfeit
good do not use the logo, he is not infringing any geographical indication.24
In countries, which provide relief to misuse of geographical indications only
through unfair competition law or consumer protection law, it is not possible to seek
protection for a logo depicting the geographical indication. In case the producer and
exporter of counterfeit goods uses geographical indication unauthorisedly, the producer
of the genuine product can claim that consumers are being misled because the consumers
identify the logo with the geographical indication even without explicit protection. In
case the producer and exporter of the counterfeit product do not use the logo
unauthorisedly it becomes difficult to prove that consumers are being misled or there is
unfair competition. But not many countries are protecting geographical indications only
through unfair competition or consumer protection laws.
7.3.1.4 TRIPs compliance
In view of their commercial potential, adequate legal protection of GIs becomes
necessary to prevent their misappropriation. Although India has had in its possession a
considerable number of products that could qualify for legal protection as geographical
designators, the initiatives to exploit this protection began only recently when the country
established a sui generis system of GI protection with the enactment of The
Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 (GI Act
1999), coupled with the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection)
Rules, 2002 (GI Rules 2002). The Act, which became operational with effect from 15
September 2003, was drafted as a part of the exercise in the country to set in place
national IPR laws as much in compliance with Indias obligations under the agreement on
24

Supra n.21.

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Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) so as to take advantage of the minimum standards of GI protection
(alongside other IPRs) that the TRIPs set out for the WTO members to comply in their
respective national legislations.
7.3.2 Analysis of the GI Act
Prior to enactment of GI Act,25 there was no law for the protection of
geographical indication in India. The need and justification for this law has been aptly
stated in the statement of object and reasons as under:
At present there is no specific law governing geographical indications of goods
in the country which could adequately protect the interests of producers of such goods.
Exclusion of unauthorised persons from misusing geographical indications would serve
to protect consumers from deception, add to the economic prosperity of the producers of
such goods and also promote goods bearing Indian geographical indications in the
exports market. Unless a geographical indication is protected in the country of its origin
there is no obligation under the agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPs) for other countries to extend reciprocal protection. India would,
on the other hand, be required to protection to goods imported from other countries which
provide for such protection.

In view of the above circumstances, it is considered

necessary to have a comprehensive legislation for registration and for providing adequate
protection for geographical indications.
Until recently and in past, protection from such misuse of geographical
indications was granted through passing off action in courts26 or through certification

25
26

Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection ) Act, 1999

Remedy under tort.

231
marks.27 However, in order to provide better protection to geographical indications, the
Parliament enacted Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act,
199928 which is quite similar and in lines with the New Zealand GI Act. This received
the assent of the President of India on the 30th December 1999.
This Act seeks to provide for registration and better protection of geographical
indications relating to goods.
geographical indications.

It excludes unauthorised persons from misusing

This would protect the interest of producers, manufacturers

and thereby consumer from being deceived by the falsity of geographical origin to
economic prosperity of the producer of such goods and promote goods bearing
geographical indications in export market. Unless a geographical indication is protected
in the country of its origin, there is no obligation under the agreement under Article 22 of
the TRIPs agreement for other countries to extend reciprocal protection. It is in this
context that the Act was enacted.29

The Act has been divided into nine chapters.

Chapter-I is preliminary which inter alia, defines various terms used in the Act. Chapter
II deals with the appointment, powers and establishment of Registry. It also provides for
registration in respect to particular goods and areas and prohibition of registration.
Cheaper III deals with procedure and duration of registration. Chapter IV describes the
effect of registration. Chapter V contains special provisions relating to trademark and
prior user. Chapter VI provides for rectification and correction of the Register. Chapter
VI relates to appeals and Appellate Board.

Chapter VII prescribes penalties and

procedure. The last i.e., Chapter IX is miscellaneous.

27
28
29

Under the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act (1958).

WTO and TRIPs An Indian perspective, http://www.indiainfoline.com/legal/feat/wttr.html.
Statement of object and Reasons of the Bill.

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7.3.2.1 Some Salient and Important Features of the Act
1. Definitions
Section 2(e) of the Act defines geographical indications in relation to goods to mean:
An indication which identifies such goods as agricultural goods, natural goods
or manufactured goods as originating, or manufactured in the territory of county,
or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other
characteristic of such goods is essentially attributable to its geographical origin
and in case where such goods are manufactured goods one of the activities of
either the production or of processing or preparations of the goods concerned
takes place in such territory, region or locality, as the case may be.30

Meaning of indication31
The word indication has also been defined to include:
(i)

any name (including abbreviation of a name)

(ii)

geographical or figurative representations; or

(iii)

any combination or suggest the geographical origin or goods to which it

applies.

Concept of goods32
The Act also defines goods to mean any:

30

(i)

Agricultural goods.

(ii)

Natural goods.

(iii)

Manufacturing goods.

(iv)

Goods of handicraft and foodstuff.

For the purposes of this clause, any name which is not the name of country, region or locality of that
country shall also be considered as the geographical indication if it relates to a specific geographical area
and is used upon or in relation to particular goods originating from that country, region or locality, as the
case may be.
31
Section 2 (g).
32
Section 2 (f).

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The above definition is not exhaustive but merely illustrative. It would not be out
of place to mention that while the TRIPs agreement refers to goods the Indian Act
classifies such goods.
Producer in relation to goods, means any person who
(i)

if such goods are agricultural goods, produces the goods and includes the
person who processes or packages such goods;

(ii)

if such goods are natural goods, exploits the goods;

(iii)

if such goods are handicraft or industrial goods, makes or manufactures

the goods, and includes any person who trades or deals in such production,
exploitation, making or manufacturing, as the case may be, of the goods33

The TRIPs definition refers to goods in general, the Indian GI Act specifies the
goods to be either agricultural goods or natural goods or manufactured goods that can
qualify as a GI.

Further, in the Indian Act, if a producer applies for a GI for a

manufactured good, he or she must make sure that at least one of the activities of either
the production or processing or preparation of the good must take place in the territory.
In that sense, the GI Act is more restrictive than the TRIPs definition. 34
This can be explained by taking Darjeeling tea as an instance. Darjeeling tea
involves manufacture because the green tea leaves plucked from the tea bushes have to
go through a range of rigorous processing stages before turning into the final product
(called made-tea), which is ultimately sold in the market. Now even if the tea leaves
are plucked from Darjeeling region, the GI Act will not allow the final product to be
designated as Darjeeling tea, unless the processing also takes place within the Darjeeling
33

Section 21 (k).
Kasturi Das, Protection of Geographical Indications: An Overview of Select Issues with Particular
Reference to India working paper 8, 2007, Centre for Trade and Development (centad), New Delhi, India.
34

234
region. The TRIPs definition will, however, allow the final product to be designated as
Darjeeling tea, even if the processing takes place outside Darjeeling, because no matte
where the processing takes place, the given quality or characteristics (such as flavour,
etc.) of the final product will essentially be attributable to its geographical origin. 35
As for a given quality, reputation and other characteristic, TRIPs does not clarify
any of these requirements further. Thus TRIPs is silent on whether these requirements
imply only such qualities and characteristics, which may be attributed to natural factors
(e.g climate, topography, etc,), or whether those characteristics that result from human
factors e.g. specialised skills of artisans) may also be covered under the definition
contained in Article 22.1. Unlike TRIPs, the GI Act explicitly mentions human factors.
Section 11 (2) (a) of the GI Act, which stipulates what an application for GI registration
should contain, refers to the geographical environment, with its inherent natural and
human factors. Again as per section 32 (1) of the GI Rules, an application for a GI is
required to be supported by the detailed description of the human creativity involved
and the particulars of special human skill involved. The significance of the explicit
reference to human factors in the GI Act may be appreciated when judged in the light of
the fact that India has in its possession numerous handicrafts and handloom products that
are apt to be protected as GIs and in the production of these items specialised human
skills and craftsmanship play a significant role.

35

Ibid.

235
Various stages of filing and grant of GI are explained in figure 1
Figure-1: GI registration process in India

(2) Registration of Geographical Indication

The protection is granted to geographical indications through registration. The
registering authority is the Registrar of Geographical Indications.
Who can apply for registration?
(i)

any associate of persons;

(ii)

producers; or

(iii)

any organisation or authority established by or under any law representing

the interest of the producers of the concerned goods.

Whom to apply?

236
The application must be made to the Registrar under the Act, the ControllerGeneral of Patents, Designs and Trademarks appointed under sub-section (1) of section 3
of the Trademarks Act, 1999 shall necessary be the Registrar of Geographical
Indications.

He shall be assisted by such number of officer, which the central

government may think fit. 36

A full fledged modern patent office and the countrys first geographical indication
(GI) registry was put up in Chennai which is really a good step forward in this field. This
registry will satisfy the requirements mentioned in the Act further supplementing it.37
Where to file the application?
Every application shall be filed in the office of the Geographical Indications
Registry within whose territorial limits, the territory of the country or the region or
locality in the country to which the geographical indications relates is situated.

Contents of the Application

The application for registration must contain the following:
(i)

a statement as to how the geographical indication serves to designate the goods as

originating from the concerned territory in respect of specific quality, reputation or
other characteristics which are due exclusively or essentially to be geographical,
environmental, with its inherent natural and human factors, and the production,
processing or preparation of which takes place in such territory, region or locality;

(ii) the class of goods to which the geographical indication shall apply;

36

Section 11.
The office website (www.patent.office.nic.in) provides information on patents and the geographical
indications registry.

37

237
(iii) the geographical map of the territory of the country or region or locality in which
the goods originate or are being manufactured;
(iv) the particulars regarding the appearance of the geographical indication as to whether
it is comprised of the words or figurative elements or both;
(v) a statement containing such particulars of the producers of the concerned goods, if
any proposed to be initially registered with the registration of the geographical
indication as may be prescribed; and
(vi) such other particulars as may be prescribed.
On acceptance of this application the registrar of geographical indications38 shall
advertise it.39

Any person may oppose it within three months from the date of

advertisement or extended period of not more than one month.40 The registrar shall, after
hearing the parties, if so required, decide whether and subject to what conditions or
limitations, if any, the registration is to be permitted.41 Thus, where the application has
not been opposed and the time for notice of opposition has expired; or the application
was opposed and it has been decided in favour of the applicant, the registrar shall register
the said geographical indication and the authorised users if any, so mentioned in the
application.42
Once a geographical indication is registered, any producers of the concerned
goods may apply to the registrar for registering him as an authorised user for such
geographical indication.

38

Section 3(1) (The Controller-General of Patens, Designs and Trademarks is also the Registrar of
Geographical Indications).
39
Section 13.(1)
40
Section14 91)
41
Section 14 (5).
42
Section 6 (6).

238
Effect of Registration No person shall be entitled to institute any proceeding to
prevent or recover damages for the infringement of an unregistered geographical
indication. This forbids the institution of proceedings for injunctions or for damages.
Nothing in the Act of Geographical Indications of Goods shall be deemed to affect the
right of actions against any person for passing off goods as the goods of another person or
the remedies in respect thereof.43
Prohibition of Registration of Certain Geographical Indications
Following geographical indications are not registrable under the Act: 44
(i)

the use of which would be likely to deceive or cause confusion;

(ii)

the use of which would be contrary to any law for the time being in force;

(iii)

which comprises or contains scandalous or obscene matter;

(iv)

which comprises or contains any matter likely to hurt the religious

susceptibilities of any class or section of the citizens of India;

(v)

which would otherwise be disentitled to protection in a court;

(vi)

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;

(vii)

Which are determined to be generic names or indications of goods and are,

therefore, not or ceased to be protected in their country of origin, or which
have fallen into disuse in that country. Generic name or indication means
the name of goods which although relates to the place or the region where
the goods was originally produced or manufactured, has lost its original

43
44

Section 20.
Section 9

239
meaning and has become the common name of such goods and serves as a
designation for as indication of the kind, nature, type or other property or
characteristic of the goods.
The registration of a GI shall be for a period of ten years but may
be renewed from time to time for an indefinite period.45
Rights conferred by Registration
It is mandatory to get a geographical indication registered in order to claim any
rights in respect of such indication under the Act.46 However, the rights of action against
person for passing off goods as the goods of another person or the remedies in respect
thereof shall remain unaffected. 47
The registration of a geographical indication shall give:
(i)

to the registered proprietor and the authorised user or users the right to
obtain relief in respect of infringement of such geographical indication;

(ii) to the authorised user the exclusive right to the use of the geographical
indication in relation to the goods in respect of which the geographical
indication is registered.
(3) Special provisions relating to Trademarks and prior users.
The Registrar of Trade marks shall, suo motu or at the request of an interested
party, refuse or invalidate the registration of trade mark which contains or consists of a
geographical indication as it would lead to expropriation of a public property by an
individual leading to confusion in the market.48

45
46
47
48

Section 18 (1).
Section 2 (1).
Section 20 (2).
Section 25.

240
The Geographical Indications Act protects a trade mark which contains or
consists of a geographical indication which has been applied for or registered in god faith
under the trade marks law or where such trade marks have been used in good faith before
the commencement of the Act or before the date of filing of an application for
registration of a geographical indication.

This Act shall not apply to geographical

indication with respect to goods or class or classes of goods which have become the
common name of such goods in India on or before 1st January 1995. This Act protects
the right of any person to use his name or the name of his predecessor in business except
where such name is liable to cause confusion or misled the public. This Act provides that
no action in connection with the use of registration of a trade mark shall be taken after
five years from the date from which such use or registration which infringes any
geographical indication registered under this Act has become known to the registered
proprietor or the authorised user.
(4) Infringement of the Registered Geographical Indication
A person, who is not an authorised user of a registered geographical indication,
infringes it when he:
(i)

uses a such geographical indication by any means in the designations or

presentation of goods that indicates or suggests that such goods originate in
a geographical area other than the true place of origin of such goods in a
manner which misleads the persons as to the geographical origin of such
goods; or

241
(ii)

user any geographical indication in such manner which constitutes an act

of unfair competition49 including passing off in respect of registered
geographical indication; or

(iii)

uses another geographical indication to the goods which, although literally

true as to the territory, region or locality in which the goods originate,
falsely represents to the persons that the goods originate in the territory,
region or locality in respect of which such registered geographical
indication relates.

It is also an infringement to use a geographical indication in respect of goods not

originating in the place indicated by such geographical indication, even if true origin of
such goods is also indicated, and the geographical indication is accompanied by
expression such as kind, style, imitation or the like expression. 50
(5) Additional Protection of certain goods
The Central Government may by notification in the Official Gazette provide for
additional protection for certain goods which are notified. A GIs once law fully acquired
their dealing in such goods shall not constitute an infringement less the goods are
impaired after they have been put in the market.
(6) Rectification and correction of Register
The register or the Appellate Board may cancel or vary the registration of GIs or
of an authorised user for the contravention or failure to observe the conditions entered on
the register. It enable any person aggrieved by the absence or omission of any entry in
the register without sufficient cause or any entry wrongly on the register by the error or
49

Act of unfair competition means any act of competition contrary to honest practices in industrial or
commercial matters.
50
Section 22 (3).

242
defect, to apply to the Appellate Board or the register to pass appropriate orders. The
Registrar and the Appellate board can suo moto after giving notice the parties concerned
and hearing them, pass appropriate orders for cancelling, varying or rectifying the
register.51
(7) Appeals to the Appellate Board
Any person aggrieved by an order or decision of the Registrar under this Act, or
the rules made there under, may file an appeal to the Appellate Board. Such appeal must
be filed within three months from the date on which the order or decision is
communicated to the aggrieved parties.52
(8) Remedies for infringement of a geographical indication
The remedies available for protection of geographical indications may broadly be
classified into two categories.
(i)

civil remedies; and

(ii)

criminal remedies.

Civil Remedies
The Act provides for the following civil remedies for infringement of a registered
geographical indication;
(a) Injunction
(b) Damages or account of profits
(c) Delivery up of the infringing labels and indications.

51

B.L.Wadehra, Law Relating to Patents Trademarks Copyright Designs and Geographical Indications,
2nd edn, Delhi: Universal Law Publishing Co.Pvt Ltd, 2000, p.513.
52
Section 31.

243
These remedies are inclusive, not exhausting and the court may provide some
other remedies in addition to the aforesaid, such as Anton Piller order.53
(a) Injunction
Injunction includes- temporary injunction and permanent injunction. Further, the
court may also order an exparte injunction for(i)

discovery of documents;

(ii)

preserving of infringing goods, documents or other evidence which are related

to the subject matter of the suit; and

(iii)

restraining the defendant form disposing of, or dealing with his assets in a
manner which may adversely affect plaintiffs ability to recover damages, costs
or other pecuniary remedies which may be finally awarded to the plaintiff.

The aforesaid remedy of injunction is more effective and can prevent a greater
harm to the plaintiff.
(b) Damages or account of profits
The remedy of damages or account of profits is not cumulative but alternative.
The plaintiff has to elect one of the two remedies at an earlier stage of the suit. The
remedy of damages (other than nominal damages) or account of profits may be denied
where defendant satisfies the court that he was unaware and had no reasonable ground for
believing that the geographical indication of the plaintiff was registered when he

53

In appropriate cases the court may on an application by the plaintiff pass an exparte order requiring the
defendant to permit the plaintiff accompanied by solicitor or attorney to enter his premises and take
inspection of relevant documents and articles and take copies thereof or remove them from the custody.
The necessity for such an order arises where there is a grave danger of relevant documents and infringing
articles being removed or destroyed so that the ends of justice will be defeated. (Anton Piller v.
Manufacturing Processes (1976) Ch.55 (1976) R.P.C. 719). See also W.R. Cornish, Intellectual Property,
3rdedn., Delhi: Universal Law Publishing Co.Pvt. Ltd., 2001, p.246.

244
connected to use it; and that when he became aware of the existence and nature of the
plaintiffs right in the geographical indication, he forthwith ceased to use it.54
(c) Delivery-up of the infringing labels and indications
It is in the discretion of the court to order the defendant to deliver up infringing
labels and indications for destruction or erasure.

The court by taking relevant

circumstances into account may or may not order for such remedy. All the aforesaid
remedies are also available for passing off action.55 Passing off actions are initiated
against the infringement of unregistered geographical indications.
(ii) Criminal Remedies
Criminal remedies are more effective than civil remedies because the former can
be disposed off quickly. The pendency of a civil suit does not justify the stay of criminal
proceeding in which the same question is involved. Since criminal proceedings directly
strikes at the honour and social status of an infringer, in some cases he comes for a
settlement out of court to save his prestige. Chapter VIII of the Act deals with offences
and penalties for such offences.
The Act contains penal provision for violation of various provisions relating to
geographical indications given below.

54
55
56
57
58

(i)

Falsifying and falsely applying geographical indications to goods.56

(ii)

Selling goods to which false geographical indications is applied.57

(iii)

Falsely representing a geographical indication as registered.58

Section 67 (3).
Section 67 (1).
Section 38 and 39.
Section 40.
Section 42.

245
(iv)

Improperly describing a place of business as connected with the geographical

indications registry.

(v)

Falsification of entries in the register.

The punishment prescribed for the aforesaid offences varies form six months to
three years imprisonment and a fine of not less than rupees fifty thousand but may extend
to rupees two lakh. However the court for adequate and special reasons in writing may
impose lesser punishment.
The Act59 also prescribes for enhanced penalty for second or subsequent
conviction. The term of imprisonment in such cases shall not be less than one year but it
may extend up to three years and fine of not less than one lakh rupees which may extend
up to two lakh rupees. The discretion is vested with the courts to impose a lesser
punishment after recording in the judgment adequate and special reasons for awarding
such lesser punishment. No cognizance would be taken of any conviction made before
the commencement of this Act. The offence under the Act is cognizable.
Forfeiture of Goods - The element of mens rea is essential for conviction. If mens rea is
lacking, the accused may be acquitted. The court may, however, where a person is
convicted or acquitted because of lack of mens rea, direct the government to forfeit all
goods and things by means of, or in relation to which the offence has been committed.
The court may either order for the forfeited goods to be destroyed or otherwise disposed
of.60

59
60

Section 41.
Section 46

246
Search and Seizure the Act empowers the Deputy Superintendent of police to take
cognizance of geographical indications offences and may search and seize things and
articles involved therein without warrant if he is satisfied that any of the offences has
been or likely to be committed and all the articles so seized shall be produced before the
Judicial Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be as
soon as practicable. However, a police officer before making any such search or seizure
shall obtain the opinion of the Registrar on the facts involved in the offence and shall
abide by such opinion. A person having an interest in may article seized to file an
application to the Judicial Magistrate of the first class or the Metropolitan Magistrate, as
the case may be, for restoration of such article seized,61
The interpretation of certain terms used in the Act is worth mentioning since it
helps avoiding confusions and lack of understanding both for judiciary and common man.
The expression indication has been defined inclusively to include any name
geographical or figurative representation or any combination of them conveying or
suggesting the geographical origin of goods to which it applies.

Thus indication

suggests or conveys the origin or source of the goods. It may be in the form of name (in
full or abbreviation) or representation (geographical) or figurative) or combination of
them; for e.g., the name Scotch indicates the origin of Whisky as form Scotland.
Darjeeling is a geographical representation for indicating the origin of tea from
Darjeeling (India), the figure of Taj Mahal on a tea brand.
The definition of geographical indication in the Act is very comprehensive. The
important point is that a good should also have an identifiable quality, reputation or other
characteristics attributable to its geographical origin. In case of manufactured goods,
61

Section 50.

247
method of production or process would become an important parameter, what it would
mean at the ground level is that people interested in obtaining geographical indication
must establish such features in a distinctive manner which may not be an easy task in
many situations and may require technical inputs.
Miscellaneous Provisions
No suit or other legal proceedings shall lie against any person in respect of
anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act.62
Every person appointed under this Act shall be deemed to be a public servant.63 Stay of
infringement proceedings can be ordered.

A stay of a suit for infringement of a

geographical indication shall not preclude the court from making an interlocutory order
during the period of stay.64

In certain cases, specified therein the application for

rectification of register should be made to the Appellate Board. Where a geographical

indication has been applied to the goods on sale or in contract for sale of goods, there is
an implied warranty that the geographical indication is a genuine geographical indication
and not falsely applied.65 The Registrar is empowered with the powers of a civil court,
including award of reasonable costs. The Registrar shall have the power to review his
own decision.66 Where the Registrar exercises any discretionary power vested in him
adverse to an applicant, such person should be given an opportunity of being heard.67
The evidence before the Registrar should be normally in the form of affidavit only and in
addition to be may take oral evidence.68
62
63
64
65
66
67
68

S.55 of the GI Act.

S.56 of the GI Act.
S.57 of the GI Act.
S.58 of the GI Act.
S.60 of the GI Act.
S.61 of the GI Act.
S.62 of the GI Act.

248
In case of death of a party to a proceeding during the course of the proceeding, the
Registrar on proof to his satisfaction may allow substitution of successor of the party or
may allow the proceeding to continue with the surviving parties.

69

The Registrar is

empowered to extend the time for doing of act subject to conditions.70 If the Registrar is
of the opinion that the applicant has defaulted in prosecution of his application, he may
by notice require the applicant to remedy the defect within a specified time after giving
him an opportunity of being heard. He may treat the application as abandoned unless the
default is remedied within the time specified by him.
A suit for the infringement of geographical indication shall be instituted only
before a district court. The relief which a court could grant in an action for infringement
or passing off includes injunctions, damages, or at the option of the plaintiff account of
profits. The court may also order for the delivery up of the infringement labels and
indications for destruction or erasure.

An injunction order may include an exparte

injunction or any interlocutory order including discovery of document, preserving of

infringing goods, restraining the defendant from disposing of or dealing with his assets
adversely affecting the plaintiffs ability to recover damages or other pecuniary remedies
which may be finally awarded by court. The court shall not grant relief by, way of
damages (other than nominal damages) on account of profits:
(a) If the defendant satisfies the court that he was unaware and had no
reasonable ground for believing that the geographical indication of the
plaintiff was on the register (in case of suit of passing off the geographical
indication was in use); and that

69
70

S.63 of the GI Act.

S.64 of the GI Act.

249
(b) When he became aware of the existence and the nature of the plaintiffs right,
he forthwith ceased to use the geographical indication.
In every proceeding under rectification and correction of the Register authorised
user of a geographical indication has to be impleaded.71
A certified copy of any entry in the register or any document of indexes
mentioned in sec.77 and sealed with the seal of Geographical Indications Registry shall
be admitted in evidence in all courts and in all proceedings without further proof or
production of the original. A certificate issued by the Registrar as to any entry, matter or
thing, he is authorised to do shall be prima facie evidence of the entry having been made
and of the contents thereof.72 The Registrar and other officers shall not be compelled to
produce the Register or any other document in his custody in any legal proceedings, the
content of which can be proved by the production of a certified copy issued under this
Act, or appear as a witness to prove the matter therein recorded unless ordered by the
court for special reasons.73
The Central Government may, by notification, require that goods of any class
specified in the notification which are made or produced outside India and imported into
India to apply an indication of the country or place in which such goods are made or
produced with the name and address of the manufactures.74
The Appellate Board may grant a certificate of validity of a registered
geographical indication or the authorised user in any legal proceedings relating to
rectification of the register, and if, in any subsequent legal proceedings as to its validity

71

S.68 of the GI Act.

S.69 of the GI Act.
73
S.70 of the GI Act.
74
S.71 of the GI Act.
72

250
comes up the said registered proprietor or the authorised user, as the case may be, will be
entitled to recover the full cost charges and expenses as between a legal practitioner and
his client.75
A person, who is a legal practitioner, or a person registered in the prescribed
manner as a geographical induction agent, or a person in the sole and regular employment
of the principal can appear before the Registrar duly authorised.
The Registrar should maintain:
(a) an index of registered geographical indications.
(b) An index of geographical indications in respect of which applications for
registration are pending.
(c) An index of the names of the proprietors of registered geographical
indications, and
(d) An index of the names of authorised users. 76
The documents such as register, the indexes mentioned in sec. 77 and any other
document as the Central Government may specify be open to public inspection at the
Geographical Indications Registry. Any person may, on an application to the Registrar
and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, obtain a certified copy of any entry in
the register or any document.77
The Central Government shall place before both the Houses of Parliament once a
year a report regarding the execution by or under the Registrar.78

75

S.72 of the GI Act.

S.77 of the GI Act.
77
S.78 of the GI Act.
78
S.80 of the GI Act.
76

251
7.4 Challenges and Problems in the Post GI Act Regime
The Government of India has established the Geographical Indications Registry
with all-India jurisdiction at Chennai, where the GIs can be registered. Authorities claim
that this Act has two key characteristics; (i) protection of producers against counterfeiting
and misleading commerce, and (ii) striking of balance between trademark and GI
protection. According to this Act, once a GI is registered, any person claiming to be the
producer of the good designated by the registered GI can file an application for
registration as an authorised user. The GI Act is to be administered by the Controller
General of Patens, Designs, and Trademarks who is the Registrar of GIs.

The

registration of a geographical indication is for a period of ten years. Renewal is possible

for further period of ten years. If a registered GI is not renewed, it is liable to be removed
from the register.

7.4.1 Registration status of GIs in India

Around 1500 products from India have reportedly been identified as having the
potential to get registered as GIs.79 Till July 2012, 178 GI got registered with the GIs
Registry80 including few foreign GIs.81

79

Natarajan, V. (2008) Indian perspective of GI Registration, presentation delivered in the Regional

Conference on IPR protection through Geographical Indication, organised by the UNCTAD India
programme and the Textiles Committee, Hyderabad, India, 3-4, June.
80
See Annexure.
81
Champagne from France, Pisco from Peru, Napa valley from USA, Scotch Whisky from UK
Prosciutto di Parma from Italy.

252
Table -1: category wise registered GIs.
Sl.No.

Category

1
2
3
4

Agriculture
Handicrafts
Manufactured
Foodstuffs
Total GIs registered

No.of
Registered GIs.
44
116
14
4
178

Source: GI Registry Office, Chennai, as on July 2012

A striking feature of Indian GIs is the variety of product categories to which they
belong. These include textiles, handicrafts, paintings, agricultural products, horticultural
products, beverage, among others. This is in sharp contrast with the European Scenario,
where GIs predominantly relate to Wine and Spirits, or other food and agricultural
products.82 Table 1 depicts the distribution of registered GIs in India as per certain broad
product categories. As may be noted from this table 1 out of the total of 178 (i.e.,
65.16%) registered GIs are in the category of handicrafts (including handlooms,
82

The EU has in its possession some 4800 registered GIs, 4200 for Wines and Spirits and another 600 for
other categories, mainly food products (European Commission, 2003), p.2.

253
paintings, etc.). Notably often these are also the products that are based on the traditional
knowledge (TK) being passed on from one generation of the artisans community to the
next, clearly reflecting Indias rich heritage of TK in arts and crafts of diverse genres; and
the significant roles that GIs can potentially play in the context of these products. It may
also be noted from table 1 that out of 178 registered GIs, 44 (i.e., around 25.58%) belong
to agriculture. The predominance of artisanal and agriculture- related products among he
registered GIs, which taken together comprise 154 out of the total of 178 (i.e., 89.53%)
clearly indicates that GIs have a significant potential to facilitate rural development in
India. It is interesting to note in table 1 that out of 178 registered GIs only 74 (i.e.,
Around 43.02%) belong to manufactured and foodstuffs 4 (i.e. 2.3%)
Table-2: State/Region wise distribution of GIs in India
State/Region
West Bengal
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Orissa
Karnataka
Rajasthan
Andhra Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Bihar
Assam
Goa
Uttar Pradesh
Gujarat
Chattisgarh
Nagaland
Jammu & Kashmir
Peru
France
USA
UK
Italy

Number of Registered Products

9
20
18
5
7
14
31
9
20
4
4
4
2
5
8
4
1
5
1
2
2
1
1

254
Portugal
Pondicherry
Punjab

2
2
1

Source: GI Registry Office, Chennai as on July 2012

Table-2 depicts that out of the total 28 states and 7 union territories of India
products form only 18 states and 2 union territories have been registered under the GI
Act. Not even a single product has been registered from 10 states and other union
territories of India.

While Karnataka has the maximum products registered (32)

interestingly few products from outside India has been registered seeking protection with
the Indian GI Registry Office.

255
The trends and patterns in the year wise distribution of GIs in India show that (see
table -3), while there has been an overall increase in the number of registered GI
products, the increase has not been consistent over the last 8 years. Only three 3 products
were registered in the first year 2004-05. The number of products registered under GI
recorded a significant increase in the year 2005-06. Twenty four (24) new products were
registered in the following year 2005-06 but in the next year 2006-07, only 3 new
products were registered. The year 2007-08, 31 new products were registered. The year
2008-09 witnessed the maximum number of new products registered 45. However, in the
following year there was a significant drop in the numbers of new GI product
registration. Only 14 products were registered in the year 2009-10. In the year 2010-11,
29 new products were registered. Lastly in the year 2011-12, 29 new products were
registered.
Table-3: Year wise Distribution of Registered GIs in India
Year
2004-05

Agriculture
1

Handicrafts
2

Manufacture
-

Foods
-

2005-06

18

2006-07

2007-08

11

19

2008-09

10

33

2009-10

2010-11

15

2011 -12

21

44

116

14

Total

Grand Total: 178

256
GRAPH 3: Year wise Distribution of Registered GIs in India

7.4.2 Issues and concerns

There are a number of issues and concerns in the context of harnessing the
potential commercial benefits out of GI registration in India. Perhaps the biggest concern
is near complete absence of an effective post GI mechanism in the country. Which
domestic registration of a GI is a relatively easy task and there has been some progress on
this account over the last 9 years, it is important to understand that only registration of
goods perse does not fulfil the objectives of the Act, unless it is backed by sound
enforcement mechanism both, in domestic and export markets. In fact, the enforcement
of the Act in other countries is a much more complicated venture as this may pose a
variety of constraints including technicalities involved in the registration process in
various foreign countries, exorbitant expenses involved in appointing a watch-dog agency
to get information on misappropriation; and huge financial resources needed for fighting

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legal battles in foreign lands.83 The Governments role is vital in the post GI mechanism
because without government support, most producer groups do not have the wherewithal
to effectively defend and promote their GI brand in India, perhaps only in the case of one
good i.e. Darjeeling Tea, the Tea Board has had some success in defending against
misappropriation in a few countries because they have the financial capacity to do so.
Though the Act defines the cases when a registered GI is said to be infringed, it is
silent on the mechanism and provisions to fight against the infringement and this is an
area where the government needs to play larger role. In the opinion of Rajnikant
Dwivedi, Director of Human Welfare Association, an

association based in Varnasi

working with handloom weavers, benefits of GI protection under the GI Act will actually
depend on how effective is the post GI mechanism. Banarasee Saree Weavers Continue
to be a distressed lot idle looms have not begun functioning and unscrupulous practices of
selling imitation products in the name of Banarsee Saree have not been curbed. Mr.Anil
Singh, Director Need, a Lucknow based organisation and also an applicant in GI
registration for Lucknow Chikan craft says that GI may leave the artisans community
completely high and dry as the awareness level on GI, the mot basic recipe for success of
any policy, is alarmingly dismal. The post GI mechanism must have adequate provision
for promotion and continuous awareness building. Chikan Craft, being an eco-friendly,
gender sensitive craft, has huge potential to increase the bargaining power of the
producers; however, this potential has not been tapped. Attempts have been made by the
State Government to tap this potential by merging GI promotion with the department of
tourism, promoting producer companies and other promotional measures.

83

However,

Kasturi Das (2006), Protection of Geographical Indications: An Overview of Select Issues with Special
Reference to India, Working Paper: 8; Centad, Delhi.

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these efforts remain restricted to a few areas where civil society is alive. One of the key
concerns that Mr.Singh points out is that a majority of producers do not have the capacity
to report and fight an infringement case.84
At present, the action related to GI appears concentrated on registration of GI
goods and in many cases the state governments are acting in haste. The identification and
registration is happening without adequate due diligence. Applicants often do not assess
the commercial status /prospects of a GI product in the domestic and export markets; the
potential of its GI status in contributing to its future growth; and the socio-economic
implications of its GI protection for the communities involved in its supply chain. As a
result, the larger and the real objectives of the Act are by passed, often leading to
frivolous and consequential registration. Moreover, as GIs are a collective rights and not
an individual right, the registration process offers an opportunity for community level
sensitization and awareness. However, in the haste to register GIs, this opportunity is
lost. The awareness and involvement in the registration process of even GI goods remain
reduced to the level of a few selected stakeholders. This has in some cases led to
seriously erroneous omissions and commission, defeating the large purpose of the GI
Act.85 In case of Madhubani painting error has been pointed out. Madhubani painting on
paper is registered as GI under class 16 which implies that Madhubani painting on cloth
is not protected.
Another lacuna is that the definition of producer in the Act does not distinguish
between a real producer, retailer or dealer. As a result of this discrepancy, the benefits of
84

Geographical Indications of India, Policy brief October 2010, aiaca. (All India Artisans and Craftworks
Welfare Association), p.8.
85
For instance, the map submitted while applying for GI registration of Bah Print (Already a registered GI)
excluded some areas where Bagh printing has existed for decades. (Pointed by Mr.Chinmaya Mishra in a
Planning Commission Meeting).

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the Act may not percolate down to the real producer. Various economically powerful
intermediaries may still continue their control over markets and the real producers may
still be dependent on these intermediaries for market access. Even if GI protection would
yield financial benefits, in such a scenario, firms with superior bargaining positions
(located on the upper stream of the supply chain) may end up appropriating a
disproportionate share of the economic value generated from securing protection.86
7.5 Conclusion
The GI Act, which came into force, along with the GI Rules, with effect from 15
September 2003, has been instrumental in the extension of GI status to many goods so
far. The central government has established the Geographical Indications Registry with
all-India jurisdiction, at Chennai, where right-holders can register their GI. Unlike
TRIPS, the GI Act does not restrict its special protection to wines and spirits alone. The
central government has discretion to decide which products should be accorded higher
levels of protection. This approach has deliberately been taken by the drafters of the
Indian Act with the aim of providing stringent protection as guaranteed under the TRIPS
Agreement to GI of Indian origin. However, other WTO members are not obligated to
ensure Article 23-type protection to all Indian GI, thereby leaving room for their
misappropriation in the international arena. Registration of GI is not compulsory in India.
If registered, it will afford better legal protection to facilitate an action for infringement.
Once a GI is registered in India, it becomes relatively easier to seek protection in other
countries, particularly the member countries of WTO.

86

Rangnekar, D., The International Protection of Geographical Indications: The Asian Experience,
UNCTAD/ICTSD, Regional Dialogue on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Sustainable
Development, Hong Kong, SAR, Republic of China, November 8-10, 2004.