4.09.2007 - 10:40am ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, DC - April, 9, 2007 - Ethiopia’s Trademarking Initiative took an important step forward today with the launch of its dedicated website: www.ethipiancoffeenetwork.com.

"The aim of this initiative is to build a new form of partnership between Ethiopia and the coffee companies worldwide that sell our finest coffees - Sidamo, Yirgacheffe and Harar/Harrar. In this spirit, we invite you to join our network of licensed distributors, and we hope that the information provided in the Licensing Section gives you enough to start with the process," encouraged Getachew Mengistie, Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office.

"Since late last year, Ethiopia's Trademarking Initiative has attracted literally thousands of articles, TV and radio coverage, and actions by more than 100,000 people who are direct supporters of Ethiopia. Yet amid this, sometimes it has been quite difficult to hear the real story from Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a very special vision: a new kind of partnership with coffee companies and consumers who really appreciate their fine coffee, and this website conveys it, clearly and beautifully", commented Ron Layton, Light Years CEO and Founder and adviser on intellectual property to Ethiopia and other developing countries.

The www.ethipiancoffeenetwork.com website goes live in the run up to two of the most significant events in the specialty coffee year, the annual conference of the Specialty Coffee Association of America and also of the Specialty Coffee Association Europe.

Ethiopia is really getting its message out and now engaging with a growing number of coffee companies that share their vision for a totally new type of trading relationship between farmers and coffee companies to ensure coffees are sold for mutual benefit.

About the Ethiopian Coffee Trademarking and Licensing Initiative

This initiative is led by the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office in conjunction the Ethiopia Coffee Stakeholder Committee which includes private and cooperative exporters and other entities supporting the coffee sector.

Light Years IP is a Washington DC based NGO working as adviser to the Ethiopians in their Trademarking and Licensing Initiative. The NGO supports producers in developing countries in securing intellectual property rights and utilizing their rights to alleviate poverty. www.lightsyearsip.net.

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