The Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) has urged the private sector to proactively identify their products with Geographical Indications (GIs) and apply for their registration to protect them against misappropriation by others countries.
In a letter sent to different chambers of commerce and industry and trade associations, it was observed that stakeholders were not utilising the existing legal provisions to protect their GI assets by registering these with the Trade Marks' registrar. As a result, Pakistan's traditional GI heritage is seriously exposed to possibilities of misappropriation by others.
A GI is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to the place of origin. Most commonly, a GI consists of the name of the place of origin of the goods.
Agricultural products typically have qualities that derive from their place of production and are influenced by specific local factors, such as climate and soil.
Whether a sign functions as a GI is a matter of national law and consumer perception. GIs may be used for a wide variety of agricultural products, such as, for example "Tuscany" for olive oil produced in a specific area of Italy, protected in Italy by Law No 169 of February 5, 1992, or "Roquefort" for cheese produced in France, protected in the European Union under Regulation EC No 2081/92 and in the United States under US Certification Registration Mark No 571.798.