(4) Where the applicant fails to send a counter‐statement under subsection (3), the applicant shall be
deemed to have abandoned the application.
(5) If the applicant sends a counter‐statement, the Registrar shall on receipt of the counter‐statement
send a copy of the counter‐statement to the person giving the notice of opposition within the
prescribed period.
(6) The Registrar after hearing the parties, if either or both wish to be heard and considering the merits
of the case, shall decide whether the geographical indication should be registered.
Section 10—Registration.
(1) Where the Registrar finds that the conditions referred to in section 8(1) are fulfilled and the
registration of the geographical indication
(a) has not been opposed within the prescribed time limit; or
(b) has been opposed and the opposition has been decided in the applicant's favour and no appeal has
been filed within the prescribed time,
the Registrar shall register the geographical Indication, publish a reference to the registration in the
Gazette and issue to the applicant a certificate of registration.
(2) Where the Registrar is satisfied that the geographical indication is not registrable the Registrar shall
refuse the application.
Section 11—Right of Use.