Journal of Agricultural Science; Vol. 11, No. 3; 2019 ISSN 1916-9752 E-ISSN 1916-9760 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 541 The Protections Afforded by Geographical Indicators and Their Characteristics: The Case of the Gis in Brazilian Agribusiness Alan Malacarne 1 , Liaria Nunes da Silva 1 , Camila Souza Vieira 1 , Ricardo Fontes Macedo 1 , Andreia Malacarne 2 , Washington Sales do Monte 1 & Robelius De-Bortoli 1 1 Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil 2 Federal University of São João del Rei, São João del Rei, Brazil Correspondence: Alan Malacarne, Federal University of Sergipe, Residencial Universidade Center, Number: 784, Apartment: 204, Street Major Teles de Menezes, Jd. Rosa Elze, CEP: 49100-000, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil. Tel: 55-027-99801-1662. E-mail: alanmalacarne1988@gmail.com Received: November 22, 2018 Accepted: December 25, 2018 Online Published: February 15, 2019 doi:10.5539/jas.v11n3p541 URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n3p541 The research is financed by FAPITEC-Foundation for Research and Technological Innovation Support of the State of Sergipe. Abstract Geographical Indication (GI) is a way of differentiating a product in the market by highlighting its added value and guaranteed origin. The objective in this paper was to analyze the Brazilian agribusiness GIs in order to identify the extent of the protection in this form of certification. A bibliographic survey was carried out in the public domain as well as a documentary search in the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) database. The database of the registries of GIs, comparing the characteristics of the GIs as: Associations and Cooperatives, in natura and modified, direct and manufactured production, animal and vegetable product, and product or service. The data of GIs was collected and grouped. Soon after, a search was conducted on the official sites of the cooperatives and associations in order to gather information about the production and other details. Direct production is very labor intensive and can not be produced in large quantities. The associations and cooperatives that have the IG seal adopt a manufactured production and hope thus have a greater financial return. All of the Brazilian agribusiness GIs are designated for products. This study serves as a basis for future research on GIs that wish to know the characteristics of Brazilian GIs in order to interact on the subject. Keywords: intellectual property, geographical indication, agribusiness, family agriculture, Brazilian agriculture; specialty foods 1. Introduction As Geographical Indications (GIs) have expanded throughout the world as a register that protects the products of small-scale farmers in specific regions (Besky, 2014), they have become one of the areas of industrial property that distinguishes products by their geographical origins (Kan & Gülçubuk, 2008). GI is a way of differentiating a product in the market through its added value and guaranteed origin (Babcock, 2015). It is also a protection against unfair competition and possible imitations, because once the name of origin is registered, it becomes the official property of that particular region (Vaudour & Shaw, 2017). According to Vats (2016), GI protection-besides taking into account climatic, geographical and local origin factors-brings socio-cultural benefits such as higher income, job creation, and productivity in the region. In Brazil, the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) is responsible for registering GIs of the regions covered by the certification. The GIs are divided into two different categories, those with Denomination of Origin (DO) and Indication of Provenance (IP). The Denomination of Origin registers a region in which it there exists a product with specific place of origin, taking into account characteristics such as soil, climate and the specific management of production. On the other hand, the Indication of Provenace refers to a product or service that has made a region well-known for its production or supply (INPI, 2018a). These GI registries benefit consumers and producers, since consumers can buy their product knowing that it is legitimate and has a guaranteed origin, thereby avoiding taking home an imitation, while producers gain prominence in the market by owning a differentiated product,