MyIPO: Terengganu Should Trademark ‘Ikan Celup Tepung’

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) has suggested that the Terengganu government or a related entity trademark the state's famous ikan celup tepung (fish fritters).

MyIPO chairman Dr Mohd Zuhan Mohd Zain said this is important to protect Terengganu’s famous dish from being imitated by others.

“Ikan celup tepung (ICT) is a popular item in Terengganu, but it has yet to be trademarked as a Terengganu product. Currently, the dozens of ICT vendors along the state's coast only use their own branding,” he said.

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"We want to preserve this product, similar to keropok lekor losong, which has been registered with MyIPO. This means that, for example, people in Australia cannot use the name keropok lekor losong,” he told reporters after officially opening MyIPO’s Satellite Office at the Entrepreneur Development Foundation (YPU) here today.

Mohd Zuhan said the opening of MyIPO’s first satellite office in Terengganu will make it easier for various groups, including entrepreneurs, designers, innovators and professionals, to protect their works and product branding.

He said that previously, people in Terengganu had to visit MyIPO's branch office in Kuantan, which also serves clients from Kelantan and Pahang.

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He said that between 2019 and October this year, MyIPO received 47,283 intellectual property and trademark applications from across Malaysia, with 1,418 applications from Terengganu.

Meanwhile, YPU Terengganu Senior Corporate Manager T. Ahmad Shabirin Awalludin said that YPU, an entity under the state government, is prepared to trademark ICT under the Geographical Indication category.

-- BERNAMA