Yirgacheffe, Sidamo and Harar trademarks for buyers

Why Ethiopia trademarked coffee names

The names Yirgacheffe, Sidamo and Harrar were used worldwide on coffee that Ethiopian producers and exporters did not always control. WIPO's account of the initiative says the Ethiopian government launched it in 2004 to capture more of the value in the retail price of these coffees, and that a consortium of cooperatives, private exporters and the EIPO ran it.

WIPO also describes the scale of what was at stake: coffee accounts for about 60% of Ethiopia's export earnings, and an estimated 15 million people are involved in the industry.

What the record shows

According to WIPO's 2007 magazine article:

• 2005 to 2007: the EIPO filed trademark applications for the three names in 34 countries, and 28 titles had been granted by mid-2007.
• United States: the USPTO approved Yirgacheffe in 2006. The National Coffee Association objected to Harrar and Sidamo on the ground that the names were too generic to register. The USPTO refused the Harrar application in 2005 and Sidamo in 2006, and the EIPO then rebutted. WIPO reports that the Harrar rebuttal succeeded in August 2007.
• Later: WIPO's later case study says a Sidamo trademark was granted in February 2008, and that trademarks are also registered in the EU and Canada, with registration certificates held in Japan for Yirgacheffe and Sidamo.

Trademark, not certification

Starbucks proposed a certification mark system. The EIPO and its advisers chose trademarks instead. WIPO's article gives their reasoning: coffee is grown on roughly four million very small plots, so a certification system would have been impracticable and expensive.

The article also notes that the EIPO and its advisers argued the names describe coffee types rather than only places. That distinction matters when you write a label. A trademark right and a geographical indication are different legal tools.

Licensing for roasters and importers

Ethiopia adopted a royalty-free licensing scheme. WIPO reports that by mid-2009 almost 100 licence agreements had been concluded with importers, roasters and distributors in North America, Europe, Japan and South Africa, and that inside Ethiopia 47 private exporters and three cooperative unions had signed.

In the agreement announced with Starbucks, the company agreed to voluntary licences acknowledging Ethiopia's ownership of the names, whether or not registration had been granted. The EIPO said the word "designation" used in that agreement was broader than "trademark" and was not a certification.

What this means when you label a lot

This page is general information, not legal advice. Trademark rights are national, and the position can change.

1. Ask your supplier about the licence. If you plan to use Yirgacheffe, Sidamo or Harrar on packaging, ask whether the exporter and you are covered by an EIPO licence in your market.
2. Check your own market's register. WIPO's record is a snapshot from 2007 to 2009. Search the trademark office for your country before printing.
3. Keep names accurate. Use a name only for coffee that is from that origin, as shown on the lot documentation. Our guide to Ethiopian coffee grading explains how origin and grade are recorded.
4. Keep paperwork together. Origin evidence belongs with your export documentation.

For the growing conditions behind each name, see our guides to Yirgacheffe, Sidama and Harrar green coffee.

Sources

• WIPO Magazine, "Making the origin count: two coffees", 24 September 2007. https://www.wipo.int/en/web/wipo-magazine/articles/making-the-origin-count-two-coffees-35887
• WIPO IP Advantage, "The Coffee War: Ethiopia and the Starbucks Story". https://www.wipo.int/en/web/ip-advantage/w/stories/the-coffee-war-ethiopia-and-the-starbucks-story

Figures and dates are as reported by WIPO at the time of publication. They are not a current register search.

Frequently asked questions

Which Ethiopian coffee names are trademarked?

WIPO reports that the EIPO sought trademarks for Harrar (Harar), Sidamo and Yirgacheffe, with applications in 34 countries between 2005 and 2007.

Is Yirgacheffe a trademark or a geographical indication?

WIPO describes the Ethiopian approach as trademarks combined with royalty-free licensing, chosen over a certification mark. Check the register of your own country for the current legal position.

Do roasters need a licence to use these names?

WIPO describes a royalty-free licensing scheme with importers, roasters and distributors. Whether a licence is needed in your market depends on local trademark law, so ask your supplier and check the register, or take legal advice.

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For Grade 1 Ethiopian green coffee with origin documentation, contact Ethiopian Arabica at info@premium-ethiopian-coffee.com or +251 911 598 197.