Slashdot Mirror
Coffee and Intellectual Property
cervesaebraciator writes "A 'Coffee Branding Workshop,' sponsored by the World Intellectual Property Organization, was held recently in Arusha City, at which the Director General of the Tanzania Coffee Board presented a paper titled 'Supporting the Coffee Sector with added Value Products Through Intellectual Property and Branding.' The paper encouraged the use of intellectual property claims, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, and designs, as sources of income which can be used to support agriculture in Africa. The Director General claimed that '[Intellectual property rights] are the basis for today's knowledge based economy and international competitiveness.' This is no doubt related to a broader effort to advance western style intellectual property in Africa through claims of the benefits it offers agriculture. Promoting western style intellectual property law as a means of third world development is a popular strategy for WIPO, the only branch of the UN to have significant wealth deriving from contributions independent of Member States. On a related note of interest to Slashdotters, there is a history of tension between WIPO advocates and FOSS advocates." I hope they take advantage of the marketing possibilities offered by civet-processed coffee.
MEH!
Civet Coffee is so fifteen-seconds-ago. the latest and greatest thing is Elephant Coffee!
Extra value because elephants are likely to become extinct any second now due to excessive poaching for ivory.
Visit CryptoGnome in his home.
I patent water distributed in/consumed from a handheld device.
Unlikely, now that elephants have coffee. They'll be way to fast for the poachers.
I have scruples.
You should see your pharmacist, I hear these days there's a cream for that.
Visit CryptoGnome in his home.
I'm planning on bypassing the civet cats and just doing the job myself.
Any takers for beta-testing?
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."