Tirupati Laddoo gets geographical copyright

New Delhi, Sep 15 (PTI) 'Tirupati laddoo' offered to
devotees at the Lord Venkateswara Temple in southern Indian
state of Andhra Pradesh has been awarded geographical
copyright that bars others from naming or marketing the
sweetmeat preparation under the same name.

The Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams, a trust that
administers the Venkateswara Temple in the Tirumala hills, had
applied for Geographical Indication (GI) with the Chennai-
based Geographical Indication Registry in March last year.

"The GI certificate for Tirupati Laddoo has been granted
to the trust (TTD). The Laddoo is now protected under law and
nobody can copy it," G L Verma, Assistant Registrar of Trade
Marks and GI, told PTI from Chennai.

Under GI, the right to marketing a product is tied to a
definite geographical territory and the manufactured goods
should be produced or processed or prepared in that territory.

Popular items that have been granted GI tag world over
include Champagne and Tequilla, and the procedure helps in
preventing others from surreptitiously exploiting a brand name
that has evolved over a period of time.

The GI status provides legal protection and facilitates
for action in case of infringement. GIs are covered as an
element of Intellectual Property Rights.

P H Kurian, Controller-General of Patents, Designs, and
Trade Marks, also confirmed granting of GI status to Tirupati
Laddu. PTI SKR
DDC