Geographical Indications

oct 5th 2009 gktoday gi



India’s richest temple, the Venkateshwara (Tirupati) temple will continue to have the
patent of its famous ‘laddu’. It is the decision by Geographical Indications Registry
which also granted the laddu the status of Geographical Indicator of the Tirupati
region.
What is a geographical indicator?
A Geographical Indication (GI) is a status given to certain products which
corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g. a town, region, or
country). The use of a GI may act as a certification that the product possesses
certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a certain
reputation, due to its geographical origin.
What was the controversy over the laddu?
As per Tirumala tirupati Devasthanam, unscrupulous elements were selling their
preparations as Tirupati laddu and wanted the laddu to be its patent with GI tag.
In the current context, the Geographical Indications Registry was convinced with the
Tirumala tirupati Devasthanam’ s claim that the laddu is unique in its “preparation,
quality and reputation”.






Geographical Indications (GI) Registry: ‘No illegality in
granting Darjeeling Tea tag’
2012-10-03 01:10:32 Puneet
The Geographical Indications (GI) Registry ruled that “there is no illegality in granting
the tag for the prestigious product, Darjeeling Tea,” while ignoring a correction
petition attempting to get rid of the mark. The GI held in its order that “Unless a
geographical indication is protected in the country of its origin, there is no obligation
for other countries to extend reciprocal protection. There is no illegality in granting
the GI tag for the prestigious agricultural product, Darjeeling Tea.”
The geographical indication for Darjeeling Tea was registered in October,
2004.
The GI registry has published the matter in its journal as per the procedure.
The present petition for rectification was filed by Rajeev Saraf of New Delhi 5
years after the registration.