The Hindu Business Line : 31 regional products get GI protection in 2007-08

New Delhi, April 3 More Indians are attempting to legally protect the uniqueness of products originating from their regions in order to save their commercial interests from copy-cats.

This is clear by the registration of 31 such products in 2007-08 from categories such as textiles, handicrafts, agricultural produce, horticulture and painting under Geographical Indications (GI), which is more than the total number of GIs registered during all the previous years since the registration process commenced in India. The total number of GI products registered in the country now stands at 61, said an official release.

GI promotes economic prosperity of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory as a registration prevents unauthorised use of that brand, explains the patent office in its Web site. In simple terms, ‘Darjeeling tea’ can only be sourced from Darjeeling.

GIs registered during 2007-08 include Muga Silk from Assam, Madhubani paintings from Bihar, Aleppy Coir, Malabar pepper and Alleppey Green Cardamom from Kerala, Salem and Arani Silks and Kovai Cora Cotton from Tamil Nadu, Allahabad Surkha from Uttar Pradesh, Nakshi Kantha from West Bengal, Silver Filigree from Andhra Pradesh, and Monsooned Malabar Coffees from Karnataka and Kerala.

The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, was brought into force on September 15, 2003.

This legislation is intended to provide better protection to GIs of India. The registration is done by the Geographical Indications Registry at Chennai.

During 2007-08, the Geographical Indications Registry received 37 applications which include Bagh Prints of Dhar from Madhya Pradesh, Banaras Brocades and Sarees and Lucknow Chikan Craft from Uttar Pradesh, Kutch embroidery from Gujarat, Naga Mircha from Nagaland, Fazli Mango from West Bengal, Pipli Applique Work from Orissa, Goan Cashew Feni from Goa, Assam Tea from Assam, and Nilgiri Tea from Tamil Nadu. These and other applications are under various stages of processing.

In order to give a boost to the registration of GIs, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recently addressed all State governments to take initiative in promoting registration of GIs of their States.

Earlier registered GIs include Darjeeling Tea from West Bengal, Chanderi Fabric from Madhya Pradesh, Solapur Chaddar from Maharashtra, Kotpad Handlooms from Orissa, Kota Doria from Rajasthan, Mysore Silk from Karnataka, Kullu Shawl and Kangra Tea from Himachal Pradesh and Pochampalli Ikat from Andhra Pradesh.

More Stories on : IPR | Commodities

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page