(1)

Any association of persons or producers or any organisation or authority established by or under any law for the time being in force representing the interest of the producers of the concerned goods, who are desirous of registering a geographical indication in relation to such goods shall apply in writing to the Registrar in such form and in such manner and accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed for the registration of the geographical indication.

(2)

The application under sub-section (1) shall contain—

(a) a statement as to how the geographical indication serves to designate the goods as originating from the concerned territory of the country or region or locality in the country, as the case may be, in respect of specific quality, reputation or other characteristics of which are due exclusively or essentially to the geographical environment, with its inherent natural and human factors, and the production, processing or preparation of which takes place in such territory, region or locality, as the case may be;

(b) the class of goods to which the geographical indication shall apply;

(c) the geographical map of the territory of the country or region or locality in the country in which the goods orginate or are being manufactured;

(d) the particulars regarding the appearance of the geographical indication as to whether it is comprised of the words or figurative elements or both;

(e) a statement containing such particulars of the producers of the concerned goods, if any, proposed to be initially registered with the registration of the geographical indication as may be prescribed; and

(f) such other particulars as may be prescribed.

(3)

A single application may be made for registration of a geographical indication for different classes of goods and fee payable therefor shall be in respect of each such class of goods.

(4)

Every application under sub-section (1) shall be filed in the office of the Geographical Indications Registry within whose territorial limits, the territory of the country or the region or locality in the country to which the geographical indication relates is situated:

Provided that where such territory, region or locality, as the case may be, is not situated in India, the application shall be filed in the office of the Geographical Indications Registry within whose territorial limits the place mentioned in the address for services in India as disclosed in the application, is situated.

(5)

Every applications under sub-section (1) shall be examined by the Registrar in such manner as may be prescribed.

(6)

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Registrar may refuse the application or may accept it absolutely or subject to such amendments, modification, conditions or limitations, if any, as he thinks fit.

(7)

In the case of refusal or conditional acceptance of application, the Registrar shall record in writing the grounds for such refusal or conditional acceptance and the materials used by him in arriving at his decision.