GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS POTENTIAL IN THE DISTRICT OF KARO (STUDY ACCORDING TO LAW NO. 20 OF 2016 CONCERNING BRANDS AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS)

Geographical environment factors and human factors, or combination of both that affects the formation of the characteristics or quality and even the reputation of a product or goods, then the product or goods that can be attached to a sign distinguishing the products or similar goods based on the geographic location of the place where the goods or the product is produced. This is known as a geographical indication protected by Law No.20 of 2016 on Marks and Geographical indication adopted from Article 22 of the TRIPS Agreement. Indonesian territory that is geographically positioned between two continents and two oceans and is located at the latitude that crosses the equator and has a tropical climate with adequate rainfall, of course, have “feature agriculture products” that has special characteristics that can be given a label of geographical indications or some sorts. Factors such as cultural, ethnic and skills in the fields of art, culinary, crafts household and so on, can produce a product or item that is based on the talent and intelligence of local communities or specific geographic causing products or goods it produces has a characteristic which can also be given a separate “geographical indication” label. Of course not all products or goods may be given a geographical indication, only certain products or goods that can be labeled with such category. Article; 24 (9) of the TRIPs Agreement confirms, if the country of origin of products or goods that have a geographical indication is not protected, then no other state oblige to protect the products or goods which has particularly the geographical indication in the country. In order for a product or goods are produced that have the potential geographical indications protected in the Republic of Indonesia or any other country, the goods or products must be registered with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. For the initial stage in the entire territory of the Republic of Indonesia, it needs to do inventory of all the products or goods produced in the Earth Indonesia, which has geographical indications’ potential. This study chose Karo lands (The Karo, or Karonese, are a people of the 'tanah Karo') as an object of research. Products or any items contained in the Karo district that has the potential geographical indication that may be registered in the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Indonesia's Republic to get protection. Such protection is not just limited in the country but also abroad. This gives a reason why this research is important to do. The research method used in this study is the doctrinal method or jurids-doctrinal and non-doctrinal niormatif research or empirical legal research methods. Results from this research is that there are a number of products or goods that have the potential geographical indications in Karo, namely; Berastagi orange, passion fruit Berastagi, Berastagi Coffee, Oil Sort Karo, Karo traditional house design and songket woven Karo society known as the uis gara