tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post116185952279849188..comments2024-03-28T16:45:51.051+00:00Comments on The IPKat: WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEEVerónica RodrÃguez Arguijohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763207846940036921noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-1161878245806313582006-10-26T16:57:00.000+01:002006-10-26T16:57:00.000+01:00In the Community Trade Mark Office HARAR and YIRGA...In the Community Trade Mark Office HARAR and YIRGAFFE have been successfully registered by the Ethiopian Government for coffee. SIDAMO is still pending.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-1161870254609081942006-10-26T14:44:00.000+01:002006-10-26T14:44:00.000+01:00The innaccurate reporting on the USPTO trade mark ...The innaccurate reporting on the USPTO trade mark applications is appalling. The Times even refers to it as a patent dispute.<BR/>In fact the Ethiopian Government has applied to register three words as trade marks (US trademarks) SIDAMO 78589307. HARAR 78589319, & YIRGACHEFFE 78589325. Not an opposition but a lengthy "Letter of Protest" has been submitted to the USPTO examiner by a US coffee traders' association alleging the words are generic. Many firms are members of this association but a well known name among the members has been chosen by OXFAM to take the blame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-1161866887753615512006-10-26T13:48:00.000+01:002006-10-26T13:48:00.000+01:00Oops, that should read "Thanks for the mention..."...Oops, that should read "<I>Thanks</I> for the mention...". Hey-ho.John Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11074559601919298190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-1161866853637447032006-10-26T13:47:00.000+01:002006-10-26T13:47:00.000+01:00hanks for the mention. ;-)I agree with your critic...hanks for the mention. ;-)<BR/><BR/>I agree with your criticisms of this trade mark application. Interesting though to think how this links in with the earlier discussion concerning Cumberland sausage and other geographical designations of origin. Is there a power imbalance here, with rich western countries able to secure protected designations while countries from the Global South find themselves unable to do so? While the terms in question might not be appropriate for trade mark protection, could the Ethiopians seek protection as a designated origin (or is this only available to producers within the EU?)<BR/><BR/>I don't know the answer to that question - just wondering aloud...John Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11074559601919298190noreply@blogger.com