Ethiopia launches coffee branding drive after Starbucks row
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — Ethiopia has launched a campaign to brand and market its coffee after ending a long trademark dispute with US coffee giant Starbucks last year, an official statement said Thursday.
The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office said a brand specialist has been commissioned to "create a distinctive and easy-to-use brand identity system for Ethiopian fine coffees."
Ethiopia, Africa's largest coffee producer, will trademark its most famous coffee names -- Sidamo, Harar and Yigacheffe.
Last year, Ethiopia and Seattle-based Starbucks reached an agreement to publicise Ethiopian varieties on its coffee labels and allow the east African state to pursue trademarks for its Harrar, Sidamo and Yirgacheffe beans.
The trademark dispute dates to 2006, when the US Patent and Trademark Office ruled against Addis Ababa's trademark application and in favour of the National Coffee Association, which includes Starbucks.
"Licensees are required to feature Ethiopia's new brand identity in their marketing as part of their licensee agreements," the statement added.
Coffee accounts for 60 percent of the Horn of Africa nation's export revenues and is the largest source of foreign currencies, ahead of flowers and oil seeds.
Ethiopia is the world's sixth coffee producer and the second largest consumer after Brazil.
