GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS: VALUE ADDITION TO BRAZILIAN AND MARANIAN PRODUCTS

The study aimed to examine the possibilities of enrichment Brazilian products and services, especially Maranhao, by registration of Geographical Indications (GIs). Thus, besides dealing with the theme "Geographical Indication", analyzing the evolution of the importance given to the subject at the national level, the present study also aimed to discuss the fundamental and strategic importance of GIs as a tool for adding value and discussing aspects of marketing mechanism of intellectual property. In order to illustrate and support the discussion, was presented the national view Mesoregions GIs in Brazil, taking into account the gradual increase of applications and acceptance of these records. It was observed that the issue still needs explanation, because the Brazilian reality shows that this is a topic not yet explored, but of fundamental importance to propose a competitive edge in domestic and international markets. As a case study, we presented several potential GIs for the State of Maranhao, which does not have any records. Finally, we conclude that the IG may constitute a factor of differentiation in the market segment, the object of analysis in this study.