The news of Geographical Indication to Tirupati Balajee Laddu has inspired me to write this post.
A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (eg. a town, region, or country). The use of a GI may act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin.
In this the product produced in certain geographies and is popular for that, but other produces the similar things outside these geographies and gets the leverage of this brand. To protect this unethical brand leverage government has proposed the GI Act.
In December 1999, the Parliament has passed the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. This Act seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India. The Act would be administered by the Controller General of Patents, Design and Trade Marks who is the Registrar of Geographical Indications. The Geographical Indications Registry is located at Chennai. The details can be accessed at (http://www.patentoffice.nic.in/ipr/gi/geo_ind.htm).
Various products nationally or internationally have received the GI for certain products. E.g. are the Champaign, Darjeeling tea (http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/case_studies/darjeeling_tea.htm) etc.
