“The difference between a trademark or copyright, for instance, is that the good that is being registered is by an entity or a legal person or so forth. However, with a geographical indication, what is being registered is the place, in the sense that there is something unique and that it has been developed into a product based on its location. The feature being tied again to the location. So you’re registering your rights against a location.”
Geographical indications play a vital role in protecting local heritage, supporting economic growth, and ensuring consumers have access to authentic, high-quality products. However, for GIs to be truly effective, public awareness is essential. Understanding the significance of GIs benefits producers, businesses, and consumers alike.
“Essentially, a geographical indication is a subset of an intellectual property right in the sense that whatever you have created or invented, you can seek protection of your right being the person who would have come up with that idea. So in relation to geographical indications, if it is that you have used any resource that is unique to Saint Lucia and you wish to protect your product, for instance, sea moss so forth, you can engage with an attorney at law to assist you with the process of application and registration.”
Saint Lucia now joins other Caribbean nations that have leveraged GIs to protect and promote their national products. Jamaica has successfully secured GI status for its world-renowned Blue Mountain Coffee, safeguarding it from counterfeit products in international markets. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Pepper, one of the world’s hottest peppers, is protected under a GI, ensuring the island retains sole branding rights.
“The benefit is that you, as the registered owner of the GI, you would not have anybody coming in to mislead the public to say that this product is from you. So essentially, a geographical indication is a sign or a mark that would indicate that this good is specifically tied to a location. Recently, Saint Lucia registered its very first geographical indication. And that would have been when we received the application last year in April, and it was finally registered in November of 2024.”
Geographical Indications are powerful economic tools, particularly for small island economies like Saint Lucia. With the successful registration of its first geographical indication, Saint Lucia is taking a bold step toward protecting its national heritage and boosting its economic competitiveness on the global stage.