Rule 59 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 59 says what happens once an authorised user application has been through opposition: the authorised user is entered in Part B of the Register and a registration certificate is issued with the seal of the Registry. The Amendment Rules, 2020 changed sub-rule (1), shortened sub-rule (2) and trimmed sub-rule (3). This article states rule 59 as it now reads.
Since 2020, where no opposition is filed within the period of section 17(3)(e), or an opposition is dismissed, the Registrar enters the authorised user in Part B and issues a registration certificate with the seal of the Geographical Indication Registry. No separate request in Form GI-3 with a fee is needed any longer. The entry carries the particulars in clauses (a) to (e) of sub-rule (2). A duplicate certificate is available on Form GI-7 without an unmounted representation.
What the 2002 rule required, and what changed
Anyone who wants to use a registered indication as an authorised user should plan the whole path through geographical indication registration support. As notified in 2002, rule 59(1) said the Registrar entered the authorised user in Part B only "on receipt of a request for issuance of the registration certificate in Form GI-3 together with the prescribed fee", and only where the opposition was dismissed "and the appeal period is over". Sub-rule (2) listed particulars in clauses (a) to (g), and sub-rule (3) required an unmounted representation of the indication with a request for a duplicate.
The Amendment Rules, 2020 (G.S.R. 528(E), 26 August 2020) made three changes, and the 2002 requirements they replaced no longer apply:
- Sub-rule (1) was substituted. The request in Form GI-3 with a fee is gone, and so are the words "and the appeal period is over".
- In sub-rule (2), clauses (f) and (g) were omitted.
- In sub-rule (3), the sentence requiring an unmounted representation to accompany a request for a duplicate was omitted.
The Second Schedule and First Schedule were also changed in 2020: the form for "request for issuance of a registration certificate as an authorised user" and the fee entry for it (old entry 3B) were omitted. See our article on the forms in the Second and Third Schedules.
Rule 59(1) as substituted in 2020
The new text reads: "Where no notice of opposition is filed to an application advertised or re-advertised in the Journal within the period specified under sub-clause (e) of sub-section (3) of Section 17 or where an opposition is filed and it is dismissed, the Registrar shall enter the authorised user in Part B of the register and shall issue a registration certificate with the seal of Geographical Indication Registry."
The substituted sub-rule is printed in the amending notification with the number "(2)", a slip for "(1)", since it substitutes sub-rule (1). Three consequences follow.
- Automatic entry. The Registrar "shall" enter and issue. There is no request or fee to wait for.
- No wait for the appeal period. The phrase "and the appeal period is over" no longer appears in rule 59(1). An opposition that is dismissed leads to entry without that wait. A party whose opposition was dismissed and who wishes to challenge the order should check the time for an appeal, which now lies to the High Court under section 31 of the Act. See our article on section 31 of the GI Act.
- A certificate with the seal. The registration certificate carries "the seal of Geographical Indication Registry". Form O-2 is the form of certificate for a registration, as rule 55(1) states for both a geographical indication and an authorised user, and our article on the certificate of registration covers it.
The entry is in Part B of the Register, which holds authorised users, while Part A holds indications. See our article on section 7 of the GI Act and our article on section 17 of the GI Act. The procedure up to this point is in our article on authorised user application and procedure.
Rule 59(2): particulars of the entry
The entry of an authorised user in the Register "shall specify the date of filing of application for registration as an authorised user, the actual date of the registration, the goods and class or classes in respect of which it is registered, and all particulars required by sub-section (1) of section 6 including" clauses (a) to (e):
| Clause | Particular |
|---|---|
| (a) | The address of the principal place of business in India, if any, of the registered proprietor of the geographical indication |
| (b) | Particulars of the geographical indication registered, including the specification of goods and the class |
| (c) | The address of the principal place of business in India, if any, of the authorised user |
| (d) | Where the authorised user has no place of business in India, his address for service in India as entered in the application, together with his address in his home country |
| (e) | Particulars of the trade, business, profession, occupation, dealership or other description of the authorised user as entered in the application |
Clauses (f) and (g) of the 2002 text, which covered the priority date under a Convention application under section 84 and the appropriate office of the Registry, were omitted in 2020 and are no longer part of the entry for an authorised user. By contrast, the entry for a geographical indication under rule 53(2) still carries both items; see our article on entry in Part A.
Rule 59(3): duplicate certificate
"The Registrar may issue a duplicate or further copies of the certificate of registration as an authorised user on a request in Form GI-7 accompanied by prescribed fee." The 2002 sentence requiring an unmounted representation of the indication to accompany the request was omitted in 2020.
The fee is entry 7F of the First Schedule as substituted in November 2025: Rs. 40 in the case of an authorised user application (and Rs. 200 in the case of a GI application), against Form GI-7. Note that rule 55(2), which covers the registered proprietor's duplicate, was not amended and still asks for an unmounted representation.
Pulling it together
| Provision | Position now |
|---|---|
| Rule 59(1) | After no opposition in the section 17(3)(e) period, or dismissal of opposition, the Registrar enters the authorised user in Part B and issues a certificate with the Registry's seal |
| Rule 59(2) | Particulars (a) to (e); clauses (f) and (g) omitted |
| Rule 59(3) | Duplicate on Form GI-7; entry 7F: Rs. 40 for an authorised user application; no unmounted representation |
| Appeal period | No longer a condition in rule 59(1) |
A worked example
Malwa Wheat Farmers' Union, an invented producer group, applied to be an authorised user of a registered indication for sharbati wheat. The application was advertised and no opposition was filed within the section 17(3)(e) period. Under rule 59(1) as substituted, the Registrar enters the Union in Part B and issues the certificate with the seal of the Registry, without any separate request. The entry records the proprietor's and the Union's addresses, the indication and its specification, and the Union's trade description. Later the Union needs another copy and files Form GI-7 with the entry 7F fee for an authorised user application, with no unmounted representation. All names are invented.
Need help with authorised user registration?
We help producers prepare the application, track the opposition window and follow the registration through to the certificate. For a tailored plan, speak to us through our GI registration service.
Key takeaways
- Since 2020, entry in Part B and the certificate follow automatically when there is no opposition within the section 17(3)(e) period or an opposition is dismissed (rule 59(1)).
- The certificate carries the seal of the Registry; no Form GI-3 request or fee is needed.
- The words "and the appeal period is over" no longer appear in rule 59(1).
- The entry carries particulars (a) to (e); clauses (f) and (g) were omitted.
- A duplicate is on Form GI-7 (entry 7F: Rs. 40 for an authorised user application, as per the First Schedule as substituted in November 2025) with no unmounted representation.
- Check for amendments after 3 November 2025.
Read next
- Rule 60: renewal of registration
- Rules 56-58: authorised user application, examination and procedure
- Section 7 of the GI Act: Part A and Part B of the Register
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.