{"id":17739,"date":"2026-03-24T06:11:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T06:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=17739"},"modified":"2026-03-24T06:13:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T06:13:52","slug":"chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Chile vs Peru Pisco Dispute: Peru Loses Standalone Pisco GI Claim in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"introduction\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Two neighbouring countries in South America both producing a popular grape-based brandy called &#8220;Pisco&#8221; for hundreds of years. One country wants exclusive rights to call its version simply &#8220;Pisco&#8221; in India, while the other says both have been using the name for ages and consumers would get confused. This real-life story reached the Delhi High Court in a battle between the Embassy of Peru and a Chilean producers&#8217; association.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#Introduction\" >Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#Factual_Background\" >Factual Background<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#Key_Differences_Between_Peruvian_And_Chilean_Pisco\" >Key Differences Between Peruvian And Chilean Pisco<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#Procedural_Background\" >Procedural Background<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#Timeline_Of_Events\" >Timeline Of Events<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#Reasoning\" >Reasoning<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#Key_Legal_Takeaways\" >Key Legal Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#Judgements_With_Complete_Citation_And_Their_Context_Discussed\" >Judgements With Complete Citation And Their Context Discussed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#The_Final_Decision_Of_Court\" >The Final Decision Of Court<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#Point_Of_Law_Settled_In_The_Case\" >Point Of Law Settled In The Case<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/chile-vs-peru-pisco-dispute-peru-loses-standalone-pisco-gi-claim-in-india\/#Case_Details\" >Case Details<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>The court delivered a clear, practical verdict that protects consumers while allowing both sides to keep using their traditional names with a small but important change. The decision explains in simple terms how India&#8217;s Geographical Indications law works when the same product name comes from two different places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"factual-background\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Factual_Background\"><\/span>Factual Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Pisco is a traditional alcoholic drink made by distilling fermented grapes. Peru has long claimed it as its own, linking the name and the drink to specific valleys in its territory like Ica and Tacna. Peru argued that Pisco originated there centuries ago, tied to its soil, climate, grape varieties, and traditional distillation methods passed down through generations. Chile, on the other hand, has been making its own version of Pisco since at least the 19th century, with laws, exports, and free trade agreements recognising it worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chilean producers stored the spirit in special clay pots called &#8220;piscos,&#8221; and over time the name stuck to their drink too. Both countries make slightly different versions \u2013 Peruvian Pisco is often stronger and more aromatic, while Chilean Pisco tends to be softer \u2013 but both have used the exact same word &#8220;Pisco&#8221; for their products for a very long time. Neither side denied the other&#8217;s production; the fight was only about who gets to own the name in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key-differences-between-peruvian-and-chilean-pisco\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Differences_Between_Peruvian_And_Chilean_Pisco\"><\/span>Key Differences Between Peruvian And Chilean Pisco<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Aspect<\/th><th>Peruvian Pisco<\/th><th>Chilean Pisco<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Strength &amp; Aroma<\/td><td>Often stronger and more aromatic<\/td><td>Tends to be softer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Historical Claim<\/td><td>Linked to valleys like Ica and Tacna<\/td><td>Produced since at least the 19th century<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Naming Origin<\/td><td>Derived from region and tradition<\/td><td>Derived from clay pots called &#8220;piscos&#8221;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"procedural-background\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Procedural_Background\"><\/span>Procedural Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Peru, through its Embassy in New Delhi, applied to register &#8220;PISCO&#8221; as a Geographical Indication under India&#8217;s GI Act of 1999 for its alcoholic beverage. The Chilean association opposed the application, saying the name belongs to both countries and granting it only to Peru would confuse buyers. In 2009, the Assistant Registrar approved registration but only as &#8220;PERUVIAN PISCO&#8221; to avoid mix-ups. Peru appealed to the Intellectual Property Appellate Board, which in 2018 removed the &#8220;Peruvian&#8221; prefix and allowed plain &#8220;PISCO&#8221; for Peru. Chile challenged this in the Delhi High Court through a writ petition. In July 2025, a single judge set aside the Appellate Board&#8217;s order and restored the &#8220;PERUVIAN PISCO&#8221; registration while allowing Chile&#8217;s separate application to move forward. Peru then filed this Letters Patent Appeal before a division bench, arguing it deserved the plain name without any extra word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"timeline-of-events\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Timeline_Of_Events\"><\/span>Timeline Of Events<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2009:<\/strong> Assistant Registrar approves &#8220;Peruvian Pisco&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2018:<\/strong> Appellate Board allows plain &#8220;Pisco&#8221; for Peru<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>July 2025:<\/strong> Delhi High Court restores &#8220;Peruvian Pisco&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Post-2025:<\/strong> Letters Patent Appeal filed by Peru<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"reasoning\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reasoning\"><\/span>Reasoning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The court looked at the heart of India&#8217;s Geographical Indications law, especially Section 9, which acts like a strict safety valve. Even if a product perfectly meets the basic definition of a GI \u2013 meaning it has a special link to its place of origin \u2013 it cannot be registered if using that name would deceive or confuse ordinary people. The judges found clear evidence that Chile has been making and selling Pisco for nearly a century, backed by old laws, huge export records, and international trade deals. Granting Peru the exclusive right to call its drink simply &#8220;Pisco&#8221; would make buyers think every bottle labelled Pisco comes from Peru, even when it actually comes from Chile. This confusion is exactly what Section 9(a) forbids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The court rejected Peru&#8217;s claim that Chile &#8220;stole&#8221; the name in 1936 by renaming a town \u2013 calling such old disputes irrelevant when both countries have long, honest use. Historical stories, old maps, and grape-growing details were interesting but did not change the fact that two different Piscos exist side by side in the market. The judges also explained that free trade agreements are strong proof that the world already knows Chilean Pisco as a real product, not something fake. On the other hand, the court said Section 9(g), which stops false claims about origin, does not apply here because Peru was not lying about its own product coming from Peru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key-legal-takeaways\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Legal_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Legal Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Section 9 of the GI Act prevents consumer confusion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Long-standing parallel use of a name matters significantly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International recognition strengthens claims of legitimacy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Historical origin alone is not decisive if dual usage exists<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"judgements-with-complete-citation-and-context-discussed\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Judgements_With_Complete_Citation_And_Their_Context_Discussed\"><\/span>Judgements With Complete Citation And Their Context Discussed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The division bench carefully studied earlier rulings and legal principles but found no direct Indian judgment on this exact point, which is why it gave a detailed walkthrough of the GI Act itself. It referred to the definition of Geographical Indication in Section 2(1)(e), explaining that a GI must point clearly to one place and cannot be a generic word anyone can use anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The court discussed Section 10 on homonymous (same-sounding) GIs, noting it only kicks in when one GI is already registered and someone applies for an identical name for a different product \u2013 not the situation here, as no prior Pisco GI existed on India&#8217;s register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also examined Section 11(6), which gives the Registrar wide power to add conditions or changes when approving an application, including prefixes like &#8220;Peruvian&#8221; to prevent confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Section 2(1)(e): Definition of Geographical Indication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Section 10: Homonymous Geographical Indications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Section 11(6): Registrar\u2019s Power To Impose Conditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The single judge&#8217;s July 2025 decision (in WP(C)-IPD 17\/2021) was partly upheld for correctly using this power, but criticised for treating the registration as a &#8220;homonymous GI&#8221; when that legal route was not available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Appellate Board&#8217;s 2018 order was overturned because it ignored the confusion risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>International references like WIPO guidelines on homonymous indications were considered helpful but not binding, as Indian law has its own clear rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The judges also cited general principles from cases like Khub Chand v. State of Rajasthan AIR 1967 SC 1074 to confirm that the word &#8220;shall&#8221; in Section 9 makes the ban on confusing names mandatory, not optional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-decision-of-court\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Final_Decision_Of_Court\"><\/span>The Final Decision Of Court<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After weighing everything, the Delhi High Court dismissed Peru&#8217;s appeal completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Peru cannot register the plain word &#8220;PISCO&#8221; as a Geographical Indication in India because it would confuse consumers who already know Chilean Pisco exists.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, the court upheld the original decision to register &#8220;PERUVIAN PISCO,&#8221; meaning Peru keeps protection for its version with the clarifying prefix.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chile&#8217;s separate application for &#8220;CHILEAN PISCO&#8221; can now proceed normally.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The court made it clear that Peru can even surrender the &#8220;Peruvian Pisco&#8221; registration if it wants, but it has no right to the standalone name.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No costs were awarded to either side.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"point-of-law-settled-in-the-case\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Point_Of_Law_Settled_In_The_Case\"><\/span>Point Of Law Settled In The Case<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This judgment settles several important rules for anyone dealing with Geographical Indications in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Legal Principle<\/th><th>Explanation<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Section 9(a) Absolute Bar<\/td><td>If two countries have been using the same name for similar goods for a long time, neither gets the plain name if buyers could mix them up; priority of use or old history does not matter.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Homonymous GI Rule<\/td><td>Homonymous GIs can only be registered through a proper application when an identical name is already on the register, not automatically by a court adding prefixes.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Registrar\u2019s Power (Section 11(6))<\/td><td>The Registrar has broad power to modify a GI name by adding words like country names to avoid confusion, and courts can uphold such changes in review.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Role of International Law<\/td><td>International trade agreements and long-term foreign laws can prove a product&#8217;s real-world use and origin, even if they are not Indian statutes.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Objective of GI Act<\/td><td>The GI Act focuses on protecting consumers and genuine links to place, not on rewarding the first user or punishing old border changes between countries.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"case-details\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_Details\"><\/span>Case Details<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Case Title<\/th><td>Embassy Of Peru Vs. Union Of India &amp; Ors.<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Date Of Order<\/th><td>18 March 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Case Number<\/th><td>LPA 577\/2025<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Neutral Citation<\/th><td>2026:DHC:2259-DB<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Name Of Court<\/th><td>High Court Of Delhi<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Name Of Hon&#8217;ble Judge<\/th><td>Hon&#8217;ble Mr. Justice C. Hari Shankar And Hon&#8217;ble Mr. Justice Om Prakash Shukla<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction Two neighbouring countries in South America both producing a popular grape-based brandy called &#8220;Pisco&#8221; for hundreds of years. One country wants exclusive rights to call its version simply &#8220;Pisco&#8221; in India, while the other says both have been using the name for ages and consumers would get confused. This real-life story reached the Delhi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[5149],"class_list":{"0":"post-17739","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-intellectual-property","7":"tag-intellectual-property"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/56"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17739"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17739\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}