Kerala: TDB Seeks Patent Cover on Iconic Temple Prasadams
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) recently has decided to secure a patent for Ambalapuzha Palpayasam, Kottarakara Unniyappam, and Sabarimala Aravana. TDB president A Padmakumar said that the decision comes following the report showing illegal production and sale of counterfeit prasadams under the name of well-known Ambalapuzha Palpayasam. He explained that fake Ambalapuzha Palpayasam is being illegally produced and sold in several bakeries in the state, and obtaining the patent would prohibit unauthorized people from continuing to sell the products under the same or similar name. He continued by saying that it is the first time when the temple prasadams will be getting Patent Protection to secure their uniqueness. The TDB has made this decision to obtain the patent rights under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 (GI Act), which is a sui generis Act of the Parliament of India for registration and better protection of geographical indications associated with products in India. As per the Geographical Indications Act, no one other than the authorized user can use the name of a registered product.