Dear Editor,
I read with interest the article on what you say is probably India’s first dispute involving a geographical indication (GI) in the April issue of India Business Law Journal. The issues involved in the dispute surrounding the GI awarded to the Tirupati laddu have been very well articulated. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”3″ ihc_mb_template=”2″ ]
However, my concern with respect to awarding GI status to a trust as in this case, or an individual in other cases, as against a place or community is not ill-founded, I am sure you will agree. Possibly the way the alleged infringer, Ganga Sweets, produced and sold the laddu was inappropriate, in that the religious sentiments of devotees who see the laddu as a prasadam (offering to the temple deities) might have been offended, but the larger issue of a temple or trust in this case being granted GI status is, in my opinion, a bit far-fetched.
To my mind, a limited protection for the prasadam, so that it is not exploited for commercial consideration should have sufficed.
S Ramaswamy
Vice-president and
Group General Counsel
Escorts
New Delhi
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