Court in Delhi settles dispute over spirits brand name, PISCO, contested by Chile and Peru.
In a landmark decision made on July 7, 2023, the Delhi High Court in India ruled in the case of *Asociación de Productores de Pisco (Chile) vs. Union of India*. The ruling clarifies the Geographical Indication (GI) rights for the alcoholic beverage PISCO, a spirit native to both Peru and Chile.
The dispute, which has been ongoing for some time, concerned the exclusive rights to the name "PISCO". The Delhi High Court has now decided that both Chile and Peru can use the name "PISCO", but with geographic identifiers to prevent consumer confusion.
Chile, whose PISCO is internationally recognised and has geographical indication rights granted by countries such as Costa Rica, can continue to use the name "PISCO" without any prefix. However, Peru's registration will be modified to "Peruvian PISCO" to avoid any confusion.
The ruling stipulates that both countries can use the term "PISCO" but must include a geographic identifier. The addition of "Peruvian" for Peru's registration ensures that both Chilean and Peruvian PISCO are distinguished, acknowledging their distinct production methods and characteristics.
This decision overturns the Intellectual Property Appellate Board's (IPAB) 2018 decision that granted Peru exclusive rights to the name "PISCO" without any prefix. The Delhi High Court's ruling aims to prevent consumer confusion regarding the origin of PISCO, ensuring that consumers can make informed choices about the products they purchase.
References: [1] The Hindu BusinessLine, "Delhi High Court rules in favour of Chile in Pisco dispute", July 8, 2023,
In light of the July 7, 2023, decision by the Delhi High Court, the ongoing politics surrounding the name "PISCO" have been partially resolved. The ruling allows both Chile and Peru to use the name "PISCO," but with geographic identifiers to prevent consumer confusion in general-news regarding the origin of the product.
