GEOGRAPHICAL JOLLIES

Unfortunate Tokyo trade mark

GI japes

Seems like GIs are the order of the day.

*AND reports that Ethiopia is considering the first draft of a geographical indications bill. Said Yakob Yala:

“It is recognised that geographical indications can be valuable marketing symbols to promote economic prosperity for producers of goods produced in particular geographical areas…It is believed that protection of geographical indication rights will have a positive impact on the national economic advancement and especially on the trade and industrial development of the country.”

* No one seems happy with New Zealand’s GI bill. Both the wine-growers and the Maori Party are objecting (for different reasons).

The IPKat notes that, while GIs bring a heap load of trouble, no one can afford to ignore them once everyone else has them.