With the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam successfully winning a case against a Chennai-based company, which was selling laddus in the name of ‘Tirupati laddu’, with the help of its geographical indication (GI) registration, the Andhra Pradesh Technology Development and Promotion Centre (APTDPC), which had helped TTD get the GI tag, has started training police personnel on the importance of GI and its legal aspects.
The Madras High Court has recently passed an ex parte interim injunction restraining a Chennai-based company from preparing, selling and making laddus available to the public in the name and style or anything deceptively similar to the Tirupati laddu.
APDTC is organising awareness lectures on GI tag at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy and the AP Police Academy.
“It has been seen that most of the police personnel are not aware of GI tags and how to deal with cases involving GI tag law violation. Hence we have taken the initiative to provide training to them,” APTDPC head Jyoti Kumar said, adding, “We are very much satisfied with the response we have got from police personnel to our GI awareness programme and hope that they will cooperate with us in our mission.”
As GI cases have to be dealt with the judiciary, he said, there is also need to make the judiciary aware of the rules concerning the GI tag and the procedures involved in their allotment. “We feel that even the judiciary should be trained to deal with GI tag cases. As very few cases of GI violation are reported in the country, the judiciary is not fully aware of the laws governing such cases. Hence the need to make it aware of them.”
He said that APTDPC has been organising workshops for creating awareness among the people.
Jyoti Kumar said the Madras High Court’s judgment on Tirupati laddu could be the first of its kind in India, confirming the rights of a registered GI as against its unauthorised use by third parties. “This judgment has boosted our morale and will help us in our endeavour to bring more products under the GI tag. The order will also make GI tag holders aware of their rights,” he said.
GI Products
Karnataka, with 32 GI products topped the national list followed by Tamil Nadu (24), Andhra Pradesh (22) and Kerala (20). APTDPC has till now facilitated filing of 26 products from AP, of which 20 have obtained the GI tag. “We are currently studying 40 to 50 products from Andhra Pradesh, including Bandaru laddu and Nizamabad turmeric, for possible filing,” Jyoti Kumar said. Last year, APTDPC had sent Etikoppaka softwood-lacquer ware toys from Visakhapatnam district and Durgi stone works from Guntur district for GI registration, he said.
Geographical Indication Registration
GI is a sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin. 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. The recognition on the markets of the names of these products allows the community of producers to invest in maintaining the specific qualities of the product on which the reputation is built.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Anil Kumar – Hyderabad / May 10th, 2014