Geographical indications in India. Make your region's name legally yours.

A geographical indication, or GI, identifies goods that come from a particular place and owe their quality or reputation to it. It belongs to the producers of that place as a group. Define IPR Solutions prepares GI applications and files them with the Geographical Indications Registry.

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GI law in three numbers

A name that belongs to a place

  • 10

    years of protection

    A registration can be renewed for ten years at a time, with no limit.

  • 3

    months to oppose

    After an application is published in the GI Journal, anyone may oppose it.

  • 2004

    India's first GI

    Darjeeling tea was the first product registered, in 2004-05.

What can be yours

Goods a geographical indication can protect

The goods must come from a defined area, and something about them must be owed to that area.

  • Agricultural goods

    Crops, fruits, spices and teas whose character comes from soil and climate.

  • Handicrafts

    Weaves, embroidery, pottery and other crafts tied to the skill of a region.

  • Foodstuffs

    Sweets, snacks and prepared foods made in a traditional way in one place.

  • Manufactured goods

    Products whose making is rooted in a particular town or district.

  • Natural goods

    Goods drawn from the land, such as stone or minerals from a known source.

  • Authorised users

    Individual producers register separately to use a GI that is already on the register.

A geographical indication cannot be sold, licensed or transferred. It stays with the producers of the region. A single business protects its own name with a trademark.

How it becomes yours

How GI registration works in India

Five stages, from the case for the product to the entry in the register.

  1. 01 Preparation

    Building the case

    We work with the producer group to set out the goods, the area, the method of production and the link between the two.

  2. 02 Filing

    Application to the GI Registry

    We file the application, with a map of the area and the supporting evidence, at the Geographical Indications Registry.

  3. 03 Examination

    Scrutiny and reply

    The Registry examines the application and may ask for more. We prepare the replies and deal with the hearing if one is called.

  4. 04 Publication

    The GI Journal

    An accepted application is published in the Geographical Indications Journal. Anyone may oppose it within three months.

  5. 05 Registration

    Entry in the register

    With no opposition, or once it is decided, the GI is registered for 10 years and can be renewed.

Claiming it

Geographical indication or trademark?

Both protect a name. They differ in who owns it.

ProtectionWho owns itCan it be sold or licensed?
Geographical indication The producers of a region, as a group. No. It stays with the region.
Trademark One business or person. Yes. It can be licensed, franchised or sold.

Keeping it yours

What you get from Define IPR

  • Help in building the case

    The statement of what makes the goods particular to the place.

  • The application, prepared and filed

    The forms, the map and the evidence, handled for you.

  • Replies and opposition matters

    We answer the Registry and deal with any opposition.

  • Registration of authorised users

    Applications for the individual producers who want to use the GI.

What we need from you

  • Details of the association, organisation or authority that represents the producers.
  • A description of the goods and what is special about them.
  • A map of the area where they are produced.
  • How they are made, and the standards producers follow.
  • Evidence of the history and reputation of the goods.
  • How use of the name will be inspected and controlled.

One thing to know

An individual cannot apply for a geographical indication alone. The applicant must be a body that represents the interests of the producers.

Applications are filed with the Geographical Indications Registry, part of the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.

Before you decide

Geographical indications, answered

What is a geographical indication?

A geographical indication is a name or sign used on goods that come from a specific place and have a quality, reputation or other characteristic that is due to that place. Darjeeling tea is the best-known Indian example.

Which law protects geographical indications in India?

The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, together with the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002.

Who can apply for a geographical indication?

An association of persons, a group of producers, or an organisation or authority established by law that represents the interests of the producers of the goods. An individual producer cannot apply alone.

How long does a GI registration last?

Ten years. It can be renewed for further periods of ten years, with no limit on the number of renewals.

What is an authorised user?

A producer of the goods who is registered as entitled to use a registered geographical indication. Authorised users are entered separately in the register, and their registration also lasts ten years.

What is the difference between a GI and a trademark?

A trademark belongs to one business and tells customers who made the goods. A geographical indication belongs to all the producers of a region and tells customers where the goods come from. A GI cannot be sold or licensed; a trademark can.

How much does GI registration cost?

It depends on the goods and the evidence that has to be gathered. We quote the official fee and our professional fee together after a free consultation, before you commit to anything.

Last reviewed . This page is general information, not legal advice.

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