Protecting Jamaican Geographical Indications: The Cases of 'Jamaica Jerk', 'Jamaica Rum' and 'Blue Mountain Coffee'
European Intellectual Property Review 2021/5
11 Pages Posted: 2 Apr 2021
Date Written: January 1, 2021
Abstract
Jamaica now takes seriously the protection of geographical indications (GIs). In 2018 it modified its laws to provide stronger protection to GIs for all products (such a strong protection was before reserved to just wines and spirits). This allows GI owners in Jamaica to prevent others from not only exploiting the name in order to mislead consumers based on the geographical origin and quality of the product, but also from using such a name in a manner that does not produce confusion but is nevertheless capable of capitalizing on the evocative power of the designation.
This short article focuses on three major Jamaican products whose names are already protected (“Jamaica Jerk” and “Jamaica Rum”) or could be protected (“Blue Mountain Coffee”) as GI.
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