Artifacts and products manufactured or obtained naturally with unique characteristics representing a particular community or a geographical location/territory are protected under Geographical Indication (GI) of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The products may be agricultural, traditional food preparations, textiles, handicrafts, industrial, or architectural designs. Similar to copyright, it is always advisable to register a geographical indication so as to avoid infringement.
Geographical Indication: GIs can be applied for via Ordinary Application, Convention Application, Single Class Application, Multi Class Application. Any individual can contest the GI registration along with a notice stating the grounds for opposing addressed to the Registrar of GI, Chennai, within three months of advertisement of the GI in the Geographical Indications Journal.
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