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Ethiopia and Starbucks: can anyone help?

By Jeremy

Yesterday Afro-IP posted an item concerning the Ethiopian Government's brand management programme for the protection of its indigenous Yirgacheffe, Sidamo and Harar coffee varietals. These brands are henceforth to be marketed under the umbrella of the Ethiopia Fine Coffee label, which will be used wherever the three varietals are distributed and sold. Licensing agreements are now in place with more than 70 companies in eight consuming countries, with licensees committed to promoting Ethiopian Fine Coffees in their particular markets.

Since this development appears to mark the next step after the settlement of the protracted dispute between the Ethiopian government and international coffee-house chain Starbucks, the IPKat has been wondering about the commercial details of the terms under which that dispute was settled. Who is paying what for whom? Is it true that Starbucks has a royalty-free licence? Does anyone know? Please email the IPKat here or post a Comment below.

A rather different Ethiopian Coffee here

Full post as published by IPKat on May 07, 2008 (boomark / email).