HC allows dual GI use of Pisco

Delhi High Court rules that Pisco brandy belongs to both Peru and Chile, rejects Peru's exclusive rights claim

- Krishna Yadav

Dispute began in 2005 when Peru sought GI rights for Pisco in India, which was opposed by Chile citing its production in Coquimbo and Atacama.

(BLOOMBERG)

South American niche brandy Pisco belongs to both Peru and Chile, the Delhi High Court ruled on Wednesday, rejecting the Peruvian embassy’s plea seeking exclusive rights to the name in India.

A division bench of Justices C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla held that both Peru and Chile have longstanding use of the mark ‘Pisco’ for alcoholic beverages, and therefore no single country can claim exclusivity over it in India.

‘The court said Peru cannot have exclusive rights to the name ‘Pisco’ because it is not uniquely linked to any one country. Since both nations have been using the name for a considerable period, the law does not permit granting exclusive GI protection to Peru alone.

‘The court upheld the single-judge order of 7 July 2025, allowing both countries to use the term with clear origin-based labels such as ‘Peruvian pisco’ and ‘Chilean pisco’, ensuring consumers can distinguish between the two.