Geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign which is used to identify products originating from a specific geographical location and that location gives it a distinct quality, characteristic.
Geographical Indications may be used for a wide variety of products, whether natural, agricultural or manufactured. For example, pashmina from Jammu and Kashmir, muga silk from Assam etc.
A geographical indication right enables those who have the right to use the indication to prevent its use by a third party whose product does not conform to the applicable standards.
For example, in the jurisdiction in which the Darjeeling geographical indication is protected, producers of Darjeeling tea can exclude use of the term “Darjeeling” for tea not grown in their tea gardens or not produced according to the standards set out in the code of practice for the geographical indication.
However, a protected geographical indication does not enable the holder to prevent someone from making a product using the same techniques as those set out in the standards for that indication.
