The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and
Protection) Act, 1999 (hereinafter
"Act") was enacted to provide for the
registration and better protection of geographical indications
relating to goods. A geographical indication (hereinafter
"GI") is a sign used on products that
have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a
reputation that are due to that origin1. In order to
function as a GI, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of
the product should be essentially due to the place of origin since
the qualities depend on the geographical place of production, there
is a clear link between the product and its original place of
production2.
In India, various types of aromatic rice including short and
long grains are grown. However, BASMATI is the best known among
these owing to its many unique cooking and eating properties
attributable to the agro-climatic conditions prevailing in the
geographical areas3. To protect these
