Rules 15-16 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rule 15 lists what an applicant must say about itself: full names and addresses, nationality, calling and other particulars needed for identification. Rule 16 requires every application to state the principal place of business in India and says that a letter sent to that address is deemed properly addressed. These two rules fix who the parties are and where the Registry can reach them.
Names and addresses of the association of persons, producers, authorised users and other persons must be given in full, with nationality, calling and other identifying particulars. A body corporate must also give the full name and nationality of its Board of Directors. Every application for registration, or as an authorised user, must state the principal place of business in India, and a written communication sent there is deemed properly addressed (rule 16(2)). Foreign applicants and persons with no place of business in India add their home address and an address for service in India.
Rule 15: the particulars to give
Rule 15 has four sub-rules, and each applies to anyone preparing a GI registration application.
| Sub-rule | Who | What must be given |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | The association of persons, producers, authorised users and other persons | Names and addresses in full, with nationality, calling and other particulars necessary for identification |
| (2) | A body corporate | Full name and nationality of the Board of Directors |
| (3) | Foreign applicants and persons having no principal place of business in India | Addresses in their home country in addition to the address for service in India |
| (4) | A body corporate, organisation or authority established by or under any law | The country of incorporation or the nature of registration, if any |
Rule 15(1) and the association. In a GI application the applicant is often a society, cooperative or producers' organisation. The rule requires the names and addresses of the association and, where the association consists of persons or producers, the details of those persons as necessary for identification. The rule does not list a fixed set of documents; it asks for "such other particulars as are necessary for identification". The form of the application, covered in our article on the application in Form GI-1, is where those particulars are entered.
Rule 15(2) and the Board. The text says "the full name and nationality of the Board of Directors thereof shall be stated". A producer company or other body corporate should therefore list its directors with their nationality.
Rule 15(3) and foreign applicants. A foreign applicant, or any person with no principal place of business in India, must give the home country address in addition to the address for service in India. The address for service rule is explained in our article on rules 17 and 18. Convention applications, covered by section 84 of the Act, usually involve this situation; see our article on Convention-country applications.
Rule 15(4) and statutory bodies. A body corporate or an organisation or authority established by or under any law must state the country of incorporation or the nature of registration, if any. A society registered under a state law, a cooperative or a board created by statute would state that nature of registration.
Rule 16(1): the statement of principal place of business
Rule 16(1) says every application for registration of a geographical indication or as an authorised user "shall state the principal place of business in India, if any, of the applicant or the authorised user". In the case of an association of persons or producers of goods, it must state the principal place of business of such of them as have one in India.
The expression is defined in rule 3, explained in our article on rules 3 to 6, and the appropriate office of the Registry follows from it. The statement in the application therefore does real work: it decides which office is the appropriate office under rule 4(1), and it fixes the address to which the Registry writes. For a filing by several producers, decide in advance which member is named first and what its principal place of business is.
The words "if any" matter. They accept that an applicant, such as an overseas producer group, may have no principal place of business in India. In that case an address for service in India is needed under rule 17.
Rule 16(2): deemed proper address
Rule 16(2) is subject to rules 17, 18 and 20. It says that any written communication addressed to:
- an applicant or his agent;
- an authorised user or his agent; or
- in the case of an association of persons, the person authorised to act in the matter in connection with the registration, or their agent,
at the address of his principal place of business in India given in the application "shall be deemed to be properly addressed".
The effect is protective for the Registry and demanding for the applicant. A notice posted to the stated address is treated as properly addressed even if the applicant has changed premises. The applicant should therefore keep the address current through a request for alteration under the rules (see our article on alteration of address in the Register), and may give a separate address for service under rule 18 if it wants correspondence to go elsewhere.
Putting the two rules together in an application
- Enter the full name and address of the applicant, and of each authorised user, if the application is for an authorised user.
- Give nationality and calling, and for a body corporate the Board of Directors and their nationality.
- State the country of incorporation or nature of registration, if any.
- State the principal place of business in India (rule 16(1)), choosing one place if there are several.
- If a foreign applicant or one without a place of business in India, add the home address and an address for service in India.
A worked example
Sahyadri Cashew Growers' Producer Company, an invented body corporate, is applying for registration of a regional name. It lists its registered name, the addresses of its two processing units, and the full name and nationality of each director. It names the unit at its head office as its principal place of business in India, as rule 16(1) requires, and states that it is a registered producer company as the nature of registration under rule 15(4). Under rule 16(2), a notice sent to that head-office address is deemed properly addressed. All names are invented.
Need help with the applicant details?
Mistakes in the identity and address of the applicant can slow a GI application at the first examination. We help groups assemble the particulars and the supporting papers; learn more about geographical indication registration with our team.
Key takeaways
- Names and addresses must be given in full, with nationality, calling and identifying particulars (rule 15(1)).
- A body corporate gives the full name and nationality of its Board of Directors (rule 15(2)).
- Foreign applicants and those with no place of business in India give a home address and an address for service in India (rule 15(3)).
- Every application states the principal place of business in India, if any (rule 16(1)).
- A communication sent there is deemed properly addressed, subject to rules 17, 18 and 20 (rule 16(2)).
- Amendments after 3 November 2025 should be checked.
Read next
- Rules 17-18: address for service in India
- Rules 13-14: signing and service of documents
- Sections 74-76 of the GI Act: address for service, trade usages and agents
- Who can apply for GI registration: producers and associations
Disclaimer: Based on the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002 as notified on 8 March 2002 and as amended by the Amendment Rules of 2020 (G.S.R. 528(E)) and 2025 (G.S.R. 812(E)), as consulted on 2 October 2026. Later amendment rules, forms and fees should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.