The Hindu : Front Page : Tirupati laddu likely to get IPR soon

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Monday, Mar 16, 2009
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Tirupati laddu likely to get IPR soon

New Delhi: The Tirupati laddu, famous for its size, may soon get intellectual property rights (IPR) as the managing trust of the temple is seeking geographical exclusivity for the delicacy. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), a trust which manages the world’s richest temple — Tirumala Venkateswara Temple — at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, has submitted an application before the Geographical Indication Registry seeking the GI tag.

“We have received the application regarding the Geographical Indication tag for Tirupati laddus,” Controller-General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks P.H. Kurian said.

The Tirupati laddu, made at Tirumala, is intensely sweet and made of tiny syrup-soaked balls called boondi. This is sold as ‘Prasadam’ of Lord Venkateshwara. Without giving details about the application and the basis on which this tag is being sought, Mr. Kurian said, “The trust has applied for the GI tag before the Geographical Indication Registry office in Chennai.” Under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, the GI office functions under the Controller-General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks.

After several attempts to seek official comments from the TTD board, its Executive Officer & Member-Secretary K.V. Ramanachary said, “We are not able to give details, ask GI officials in this regard.”

However, the Chennai-based Geographical Indication Registry Office didn’t disclose any details about the application, either.

Under legal protection, the GI tag facilitates action in the case of any violation of its exclusive rights. The GI tag aims at promoting the economic prosperity of producers of goods in a geographical area.

Usually, the tag is granted to goods that essentially originate and are produced in a defined geographical locality and region. Geographical indications are covered as part of intellectual property rights.

The GI tag has been awarded to a number of products or goods, including the famous Darjeeling Tea, Madhubani Paintings, Kashmiri Sozani Craft and Thanjavur Paintings. — PTI

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