Section 7 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.
Section 7 splits the Register of Geographical Indications into two Parts. Part A holds the particulars of registered geographical indications; Part B holds the particulars of registered authorised users. The split mirrors the two kinds of application the Act recognises: one by the producers' body for the indication itself, and another by an individual producer to be registered as an authorised user. If you plan to register a geographical indication, you should know which part your entry will sit in.
The Register under section 6 is divided into two Parts, Part A and Part B. Part A carries the particulars relating to registration of geographical indications. Part B carries the particulars relating to registration of authorised users. Both are incorporated in the prescribed manner.
The text, sub-section by sub-section
Sub-section (1): "The register referred to in section 6 shall be divided into two Parts called respectively Part A and Part B."
Sub-section (2): "The particulars relating to the registration of the geographical indications shall be incorporated and form Part A of the register in the prescribed manner."
Sub-section (3): "The particulars relating to the registration of the authorised users shall be incorporated and form part of Part B of the register in the prescribed manner."
| Part | What goes in | Who it concerns | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | Particulars of the registration of geographical indications | The registered proprietor and anyone checking the indication | s.7(2) |
| Part B | Particulars of the registration of authorised users | Individual producers registered under section 17 | s.7(3) |
In both cases the manner of incorporation is "prescribed", meaning set by rules made under the Act (section 2(1)(j)). The rules are not part of the text consulted, so this article states no form, fee or rule number and does not describe the layout of entries.
How the two Parts connect to the rest of the Act
Part A: the indication
Part A is where the registered indication appears once the Registrar registers it under section 16. Under section 16(1) the indication is registered as of the date of making of the application, and that date is deemed to be the date of registration, subject to section 84. The certificate that follows under section 16(2) is a copy of the entry under the seal of the Registry, which section 23(1) treats as prima facie evidence of validity.
The registered proprietor, defined in section 2(1)(n) as an association of persons or of producers or an organisation "for the time being entered in the register as proprietor", is the entity named with the indication. Section 6(1) says the Register records "the names, addresses and descriptions of the proprietors".
Part B: the authorised users
Part B carries authorised users. Section 17(1) lets "any person claiming to be the producer of the goods" apply to be registered as an authorised user, and section 17(3) applies the filing, examination, advertisement, opposition and registration provisions to such applications "in the same manner" as for the indication. Section 18(2) gives the registration of an authorised user a period of ten years or until the date on which the registration of the indication expires, whichever is earlier. Section 6(1) records "the names, addresses and descriptions of authorised users". For the rights an authorised user enjoys, see authorised user of GI: registration and rights.
An important detail from section 16(1): the Registrar registers "the said geographical indication and the authorised users, if any, mentioned in the application". So the application for the indication can itself name authorised users who are then registered alongside it, and each is separately entered in Part B.
What the section does not say
- It does not say how the Parts are laid out or numbered inside; that is "in the prescribed manner".
- It does not say that the two Parts are kept at different places. Section 6(1) keeps the register at the head office of the Registry.
- It does not say that an authorised user can exist without a registered indication. The definition in section 2(1)(b), tied to section 17, and the text of section 17(1) ("in respect of which a geographical indication has been registered under section 16") point to a registered indication first.
- It does not deal with fees, forms, or time limits.
Why the split matters in practice
- Different people, different entries. Changes to the proprietor's name, address or description, or striking out goods, are dealt with under section 28 on the application of "the registered proprietor or the authorised user". Knowing which Part carries the entry tells you whose particulars are being corrected.
- Duration differs. The indication is registered for ten years and renewable (section 18(1)); the authorised user's registration runs for ten years or until the indication's registration expires, whichever is earlier (section 18(2)).
- Rights flow from Part B. The exclusive right to use the indication in relation to the registered goods is given by section 21(1)(b) to "the authorised user". A producer who is not entered in Part B is not an authorised user, so cannot claim that right.
Example. The Hilltop Weavers' Cooperative obtains registration for "Hilltop weave". Part A shows the indication, the goods and the cooperative as proprietor. Rahim, a member weaver who has applied and been accepted under section 17, appears in Part B with his name, address and description. A weaver who has never applied has no Part B entry and is not an authorised user.
Reading the Part split with section 24
Section 24 says no right to a registered geographical indication may be the subject of "assignment, transmission, licensing, pledge, mortgage or any such other agreement", with a proviso on devolution on the death of an authorised user. Part B entries are therefore not a channel for licensing; they record registered users, whose rights come from registration, not from a licence. That is covered in Sections 23 and 24.
Need help getting producers onto the Register?
An indication and its authorised users sit in separate Parts and are applied for in separate steps, and it is easy to miss a producer. Our team can prepare the application and the authorised user applications together as part of a geographical indication registration.
Key takeaways
- The Register is divided into Part A and Part B (section 7(1)).
- Part A: particulars of registration of geographical indications (section 7(2)).
- Part B: particulars of registration of authorised users (section 7(3)).
- Incorporation is "in the prescribed manner"; the rules are not in the source text.
- Authorised users are registered with, or after, the indication and are entered in Part B.
Read next
- Sections 5 and 6: the Registry and the Register
- Section 8: registration for particular goods and area
- Authorised user of GI: registration and rights
Disclaimer: Based on the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 read with the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Forms, fees and procedure are set by the rules made under the Act. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.