[image from abc. For those new to the Ethiopia coffee trademark issue, start here]

If you’re relying on the mainstream media coverage, you’re probably still confused as to what actual Ethiopians think about this Ethiopian coffee trademark issue.

After all, most of the people quoted are from Oxfam and Light Years IP — the orgs on the pro-trademarking side — and from Starbucks and big US coffee orgs like SCAA — who’re anti-trademarking.

So what do Ethiopians want?

Let’s start with what the Ethiopian government wants. Clearly, it wants to trademark its coffees. The Ethiopian embassy put out a press release on Nov. 7, 2006 (PDF), calling Starbucks’ contention that trademarking will make farmers poorer a “thinly veiled threat” to “boycott our farmers.”

How constructive has the dialogue between Ethiopia and Starbucks been? H.E. Kassahun Ayele, former Ethiopian ambassador to the US, says he tried to get Starbucks’ then-CEO to chat with him back in March 2005 — and got no reply to his requests (PDF).

Starbucks and Ethiopian officials have met a few times since, but no agreements have been reached. Ethiopia still wants to trademark, while Starbucks sez Ethiopia should seek certification instead.

In fact, in November 2006, the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office to Starbucks (PDF): “With all due respect, it is for Ethiopia to determine which form of ownership — trademark or certification mark — it wishes to pursue.”

I can’t disagree with that. Neither does Wondwossen Mezlekia, writing in Ethiomedia: “The 88 million dollar question is who determines what is good for the Ethiopian farmers?”

Wondwossen’s whole article’s an interesting read; check it out.

Update, 12/7/06: Oxfam’s using a Starbucks’ promo to promote its own message! Tee hee!

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