Puri Jagannath temple secures IP protection for sacred ‘words’ & Neelachakra

Why in News?

In a first-of-its-kind initiative by any shrine in India, the Shree Jagannath Temple administration has secured intellectual property (IP) protection for key terms associated with the temple and obtained trademark registration for its official logo. 

What Happened?

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration secured trademark registrations from Intellectual Property India for:

• ‘Patitapabana’ (Saviour of the Fallen), a revered title associated with Lord Jagannath (Wordmarks).
• ‘Ananda Bajara’, the sacred marketplace within the temple complex where devotees partake of Mahaprasad (Wordmarks).
• ‘Neelachakra’, the sacred eight-spoked metallic disc atop the temple’s main spire, registered as the official logo (logomark) of the SJTA (Logomarks).

Trademark vs Patent

Although temple authorities initially referred to the registrations as “patents”, intellectual property experts clarified that the protection granted is in the form of:

• Wordmarks: Protection for specific words, names, or phrases.
• Logomarks: Protection for logos, symbols, or designs.

A patent protects inventions and technological innovations, whereas a trademark protects names, symbols, logos, and brand identities.  

Similar IP Protection for Temple Offerings

Tirupati Laddu: The famous Tirupati Laddu offered at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2009 from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. It is regarded as the first temple prasadam in India to receive GI protection.

Palani Panchamirtham: Palani Panchamirtham, the sacred prasadam of the Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, was awarded a GI tag in 2019, becoming the second temple prasadam in India to obtain such recognition.