Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
Dr. André Gordon (left), managing director of Technological Solutions Limited, and president of the Jamaica Exporters' Association. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE BOOTLEGGING of brand Jamaica, which is reportedly robbing the country of several billion in U.S. dollars per annum, is about to get a blow from a copyright campaign. This is being spearheaded by the Government and the Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA) in tandem with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
The campaign will include legal actions demanding the cessation of the illegal use of the brand; and in some cases remuneration will be sought.
"We have a number of cases of infringement in a number of countries. You name it; from ackee to coffee, people are really terrorising our brand," Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, told The Gleaner yesterday. He added that expected settlements from the legal proceedings are dependent on the extent of the sale of the product in question.
Dr. André Gordon, president of the JEA, pointed out that the infringed products ranged from food products to other cultural items and services. "For food products we are losing hundreds of millions in U.S. dollars and for music and other cultural services, the figures show that we are talking billions of U.S. dollars," emphasised Dr. Gordon.
In addition to the haemorrhaging of billions of U.S. dollars, the pirates are also tampering with the island's tradition of producing goods of a high standard.
"We have established a reputation for quality and taste and if these people (continue) to purport that their products are coming from Jamaica, people will begin to question our integrity," added Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture.
Raymond Watkins, a Jamaican who is a major importer of ackee into New York, also confirmed that the Jamaican brand is taking a beating from bootleggers. "The exploitation comes in the form of re-labelling, meaning copying of existing labels, especially when there is a severe shortage," he said.
Copyright infringements
Jamaican drink mixes from Guatemala
Jamaican sauces from Costa Rica
Jamaican jerk seasoning from Guatemala
Plethora of canned ackees from Haiti, Ivory Coast, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica
