GI TAGS USED IN INDIA

No, this article is definitely not about GI Joe-3. In this case GI stands for Geographical Indication. The term might not ring a bell but its results are commonly in usage among us. Continue the article if the last sentence seems to puzzle.

GI is similar to trademark except that it is issued to products which associate themselves to a particular region. For e.g. Consider TEA, the formula to make a tea can be patented but the tea itself can’t be patented, but tea brewed in a particular region in an unique fashion can be given the GI tag, in this case the infamous “Darjeeling TEA”.

The main reason for issuing GI tag is to preserve the ethnic culture followed in certain rural areas and to give it global recognition.

Many such articles know to us have been issued the GI tag but we were never aware of this so called tag. Even I would not have known about it, if it wasn't for the recent article wherein the Nagpur Orange and Dharmavaram (Andhra) sarees were issued the GI tags.

Interestingly “Hyderabad Briyani” is still awaiting its GI tag due to the delays in presenting the requisite historical documents.

Few years ago a lawsuit was won by Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) for the “Tirupathi Laddu” using the GI tag.

Some of the well known GI tags:

·        Darjeeling Tea

·        Mysore silk

·        Mysore Agarbathi

·        Kancheepuram Silk

·        Coimbatore Wet Grinder ( Yes Even I was surprised to hear it at first)

·        Mysore Sandal Soap

·        Thanjavur Paintings

·        Arani Silk

·        Konark Stone carving

·        Thanjavur Doll

·        Pattamadai pai

For more GI tags used in India:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Geographical_Indications_in_India