Sinopia News Top

Ethiopia Urging for Brand and Trademark Signature Coffee

In hopes of getting its world renowned coffee a brand and trademark protection as well boost national revenue, Ethiopia is set to continue dialogues with international buyers.

According to Teshome Sileshi of Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office, the aim of the negotiations is preventing illegal coffee trade, unfair price fixing and profiteering involving Ethiopian coffee brands in the world market.

He explained 34 countries has thus far granted brands and trademarks for globally popular and on-demand variety coffee that are grown in south and eastern Ethiopia.

According to him, out of these countries twenty seven of them are members of the European Union while the rest are India, Japan, Canada, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, China and South Africa.

There are 15 million Ethiopians that are directly or indirectly involved in coffee production that receive less than 10 percent of the retail price, Teshome added. He furthered the rest goes to international middle men and distributors.

Teshome also said an application has also been made to Australia and Brazil but they have not made any response yet.

He furthered negotiations will continue drawing experiences from two consultant companies: Light Years IP and Arnold & Porter LLP.

Source: World Bulletin