Enacted 1999Intellectual PropertyBrief

The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999

Provides registration and protection for goods whose given quality or reputation is essentially attributable to their geographical origin.

In one line

What this Act says

Protects goods linked to a geographic origin â€” like Darjeeling tea or Banarasi sari â€” from being passed off by outsiders.

Penalties

4 headline offences

Falsifying a registered GI / applying false GI to goods
Â§39
Imprisonment 6 months â€“ 3 years + fine â‚¹50,000 â€“ â‚¹2 lakh.
Selling goods to which false GI is applied
Â§40
Imprisonment 6 months â€“ 3 years + fine â‚¹50,000 â€“ â‚¹2 lakh.
Subsequent offence
Â§41
Imprisonment 1 â€“ 3 years + fine â‚¹1 lakh â€“ â‚¹2 lakh.
Falsely representing GI as registered
Â§42
Imprisonment up to 3 years and/or fine.

Headline offences only — not exhaustive. For the full text and every section, open the source PDF or the official link below.

Key Sections & Penalties

Showing 5 of 7

Section	Type	Provision	Applicability	Details / Penalty
§8	structural	Registration of geographical indications	-	Administrative / Structural
§21	right	Rights conferred by registration	-	Administrative / Structural
§22	structural	Infringement of registered geographical indications	-	Administrative / Structural
§39	criminal	Falsifying a registered GI / applying false GI to goods	-	Imprisonment 6 months – 3 years + fine ₹50,000 – ₹2 lakh high RISK
§40	criminal	Selling goods to which false GI is applied	-	Imprisonment 6 months – 3 years + fine ₹50,000 – ₹2 lakh high RISK

Maximum punishments as prescribed by the Act. Actual sentencing depends on facts, prior convictions and judicial discretion.

Sources

We always show you the local source PDF and at least one verifiable online reference, so you can check anything we say.

Source PDF

Geographical Indications Act, 1999.pdf

Full text · opens in new tab

Reference

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org · opens in new tab

About this Act