GI Tags
Context
- From Pashmina shawls to Darjeeling tea, India is waking up to the importance of GI tags.
About
- A geographical indication or GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
- Geographical Indications are part of the intellectual property rights that comes under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
- In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.
- This tag is valid for a period of 10 yearsfollowing which it can be renewed.
- GI tags are covered under World Trade Organization.
- Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
- It is basically an assurance that the product is coming from that specific area. It's kind of trademark in the international market.
- Karnataka has the highest number of GI tags i.e. 47products followed by Tamil Nadu (39).
Benefits of registration of Geographical Indications
- It confers legal protection to Geographical Indications in India
- Prevents unauthorised use of a Registered Geographical Indication by others
- It provides legal protection to Indian Geographical Indications which in turn boost exports.
- It promotes economic prosperity of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory.
How a geographical indication is different from a trade mark?
- A trade mark is a sign which is used in the course of trade and it distinguishes goods or services of one enterprise from those of other enterprises.
- Whereas a geographical indication is an indication used to identify goods having special characteristics originating from a definite geographical territory.
To read about to complete list of GI Tags, Visit: https://www.iasgyan.in/blogs/complete-list-of-geographical-indications-gi-tags-in-india-as-of-2021
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