Geographical Indications (GI)

 

Geographical Indications (GI)

Section 3 Part II (Article 22 to Article 24) of the TRIPS Agreement contains the provisions for minimum standards in respect of geographical indications.

Geographical Indications of Goods are defined as that aspect of intellectual property which refers to the geographical indication referring to a country or to a place situated therein as being the country or place of origin of that product. Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to the fact of its origin in that defined geographical locality, region or country. Under Articles 1 (2) and 10 of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, geographical indications are covered as an element of IPRs.

In India, the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999came into force with effect from 15th September 2003. This Act seeks to provide for the registration and protection of Geographical Indications relating to goods in India. The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks is also the registrar for the Geographical Indications, and the Geographical Indications Registry is located at Chennai.