GI
Geographical Indications in India: Registration, Rights and Enforcement
Geographical Indications in India are governed by the GI Act 1999, providing legal protection to products based on their unique regional origin, reputation, and quality.
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Category: GI
The Geographical Indications (GI) section provides focused legal commentary on the protection of regional goods, agricultural products, and traditional craftsmanship under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999.
Our coverage examines landmark GI disputes before the High Courts and the Intellectual Property Office, registration workflows for applicant associations and authorised users, challenges in establishing distinctiveness and geographical origin, and civil remedies against deceptive similarity and passing off of registered GI products across India.
GI
Kolhapuri Chappal GI: Why Design Copying Remains Unprotected
A Geographical Indication (GI) tag in India protects a product's name and origin, but it does not grant a design monopoly or prevent global brands from reproducing traditional aesthetics. The Prada Kolhapuri chappal case demonstrates that current Indian law, under the GI Act 1999, fails to stop the appropriation of artisanal designs as long as the registered GI name is not explicitly misused. Without legislative reform, such as extending Article 23 protections to handicrafts, traditional cultural expressions remain legally vulnerable to foreign corporate exploitation despite existing GI protections.