Geographical Indication or GI Tags is an intellectual property
right given over a product that originates from a specific
geographical location and holds qualities that are intrinsic or
reputable due to that location. A few examples of GIs are Roquefort
Cheese which is a unique form of blue cheese that is aged in
Roquefort-Sur-Soulzon, France; Mysore Silk Saree, which is made in
the KSIC factory, Mysuru.
GI as an Intellectual Property Right is included in Article 22
of the TRIPS Agreement.1 It requires the member
states to protect the identity of the product, originating from a
particular geographical location, and from preventing the use of
such identity for any other product not originating from that
location, so has to protect the public from getting
misled.2 India, being a signatory of the TRIPS
Agreement, subsequently passed the Geographical Indication of Goods
(Registration and Protection) Act, 19993 and the
Rules on Geographical Indication of Goods
