Posted by Rachel | Posted in Gourmet Coffee | Posted on 25-05-2009
Tags: coffee, ethiopia, ethiopian, ethiopian sidamo, ethiopian sidamo coffee beans, ethiopian sidamo guji, ethiopian sidamo natural, ethiopian sidamo starbucks, free_sidamo, from:letitflow
Legal experts out there: How can you block a trademark such as the one for Ethiopian coffee beans?
Ethics aside, how can Starbucks and the National Coffee Association LEGALLY block a trademark application by Ethiopian farmers for their coffee beans, Sidamo and Harar?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061105/bs_nm/food_coffee_starbucks_dc_1
I want to know more about the technicalities involved and how a lawyer would make moves to block an African country from trademarking its coffee. If these coffee beans have been called Sidamo and Hara for a thousand years, what are the technicalities to challenge this in court? It just seems like it’s Ethiopia’s godgiven right to trademark these names…it’s not like the coffee beans are called “Apple” and “Microsoft”.
Applications for trademarks are published. Any individual or firm can file an objection, usually on the grounds of infringement, or that the trademark represents an effort to block the use of a generic term, including a descriptive geographic one.
But geographic ones may be protected otherwise also: as appellations d’origine (like wines, Parma ham, cheese, etc.)
Here’s one businessperson’s story: http://www.cummingsdesign.com/trademarks_service_marks_problems.htm
And here’s the official UK Government site about opposition to a trademark application: http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/t-other/t-object/t-object-afterpublish/t-object-afterpublish-oppose.htm
And the US Government site: http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm
Sidamo (Southern Ethiopia)
|
|
Ethiopian – Natural Sidamo Coffee – 12 oz. This naturally processed Sidamo is bursting with blueberry notes that softly linger on your palate. Medium roast level…. |
|
|
Ethiopian Sidamo Coffee – 1 lb. This delightful single-origin natural-process was a tricky bean to get just right but when we did we were blown away! A light-to-medium roast it has huge blueberry notes with dark brown-sugar sweetness. Truly a unique coffee!* This coffee is certified fair-trade and organic at origin…. |
|
|
Shifta Tomb, Sidamo, Ethiopia, Africa Photo Mugs Shifta Tomb, Sidamo, Ethiopia, Africa…. |
|
|
Equal Exchange Organic Coffee, Ethiopian, Whole Bean, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3) $28.68 Organic. Awaken your consciousness. Heavy body with hints of vanilla and spice. From small farmer co-ops in Sidamo, Ethiopia. A product of Equal Exchange. Certified organic by Oregon Tilth. Our Commitment: To pay a fair price to the farmer; To trade direc… |
|
|
Ethiopia Sidamo Raw (green) Coffee Beans, 5LB $38.95 Our Ethiopia Sidamo is a fully washed Screen 16/17 coffee. This specialty grade raw (green) coffee is perfect for the home roaster. This coffee cups with a nice aroma, medium body, good acidity, clean citrus finish…. |
|
|
Organic Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Green Coffee Beans – 3lbs $34.99 These are amazing and unique coffees. Coffees from this region will surprise you with their floral and tangerine notes. I like to think of the Yirgacheffes as the “Tabasco” of the coffees. As a dash of Tabasco will turn an ordinary chicken soup into a great cup of soup, a yirgacheffe will take a medium cup to a whole new level. Many folks like it straight, I like to blend it. Roast it lighter than… |
|
|
Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Shifta Tomb, Sidamo, Ethiopia, Africa from Robert Harding Photo Puzzle, Shifta Tomb, Sidamo, Ethiopia, Africa. Shifta Tomb, Sidamo, Ethiopia, Africa. Chosen by Robert Harding. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 affixed to box top. Puzzle pieces printed on RA4 paper at 300 dpi. This item is shipped from our American lab…. |
|
|
Report on land tenure survey of Sidamo Province. … |
|
|
The Omo River Project: Reconnaissance geology and geochemistry of parts of Ilubabor, Kefa, Gemu Gofa and Sidamo, Ethiopia (Bulletin / Ministry of … Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys) … |