The famous Palani panchamirtham, given as ‘prasadam’ at the Murugan temple there, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

                                This is the first time a temple ‘prasadam’ from Tamil Nadu has been bestowed with the GI tag.The panchamirtham is a combination of five natural substances — banana, jaggery, cow ghee, honey and cardamom. Dates and diamond sugar candies are added for flavour.Not even a single drop of water is added during the preparation of the panchamirtham. This gives it its classic semi-solid consistency and taste. No preservatives or artificial ingredients are used.

                                         LEARNING WITH TIMES

A GI is a sign, tag can be issued for agricultural, natural or manufactured goods ,products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation or other characteristics that are due to that origin. A GI registration gives the registered proprietor and authorised users the legal right to the exclusive use of the GI, and no unauthorised person can use the tag. Some of the examples of GI are Mysore Silk, Mysore Agarbathi, Kancheepuram Silk, Orissa Ikat, Channapatna Toys & Dolls, and Coimbatore Wet Grinder. Products sold with the GI tag get premium pricing; It boosts exports; The poor farmers/artisans from the given region have to face less competition from fake guys selling bogus products. Right is enjoyed by a community / association of producers.=community right. Under WTO– Trade related Intellectual property rights (TRIPS), the Member nations have to respect geographical indications.

                                    A GI is different from Trade Mark. A Trademark generally refers to a “brand” or “logo be obtained for a business name, distinctive catch phrases, taglines or captions. Product comes from a particular enterprise/company, Right enjoyed by only one person/company=individual right. Can be goods (mobile, PC etc) or service (e.g.music, spa etc.). a trademark can last forever, so long as the owner continues to use the mark in commerce to indicate the source of goods and services. Identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others

                                  A patent is a limited duration property right or instrument of monopoly relating to an invention, in exchange for public disclosure of the invention.  Patentable materials include machines, manufactured articles, industrial processes, and chemical compositions.A patent gave rights To Exclude Others from Practicing ones Invention; It Does Not Give The Right To Use ones Invention.

                                A copyright protects works of authorship; songs, books, movies, and works of art that have been tangibly expressed in a physical form.