Jamaica and Switzerland sign historic Bilateral Trade Agreement to protect Brand Names and Geographical Indicators - Escape Plan for the eventual Decriminalization and Legalization of Ganja

Look like Ras Puddler’s popular again. On the heels of his declaration that the coming decriminalization and subsequent legalization of Ganja makes it a product for the “Big Man” as explained in my blog article entitled “Ras Puddler says Legalization of Marijuana benefits large Scale Growers - How Teenagers can Learn to Extract THC for personal Use to make Chocolate Cookie, Brownies and Sorrell Cake for Christmas” the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) has taken one more step towards this becoming a reality via JIPO.

Jamaica and Switzerland have entered into a BTA (Bilateral Trade Agreement) in a bid to protect certain brand names and local place names i.e. Geographical Indicators of products from misuse as explained in “Ganja gets Gov’t protection”, published Tuesday, November 05, 2013 BY EILEEN FERGUSON Observer writer, The Jamaica Observer.

This historic document was signed into effect at the 51st General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva. As it’s covered under the WTO (World Trade Organization) Agreement on TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights), it means that the Jamaica Protection of Geographical Indications Act of 2004 is now enforceable in Switzerland via this BTA.

This BTA not only just a fancy form of Copyright protection for Trademarks and Trade names as explained in my blog article entitled “JAMCOPY and MOE Copyright Infringement – UWI License to Kill in a Clash of the Titans”  but it Geographical Indicators, which the Jamaica Protection of Geographical Indications Act of 2004 defines as, quote: “goods originating in the territory of a country, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin.”.

Put another way, if the best Ackee are known as Jamaican Ackees or even some of our Finest Jerk Sauces, Jamaica’s main product as explained in my blog article entitled “Jamaica's Basic Item Food Bill mostly from 1st World Countries - Buy Jamaican Build Jamaica made from Imported Raw Materials in containers that says Made in Jamaica”, they’re associated with a certain level of Quality, taste and packaging from Jamaica and thus are protected under this BTA with Switzerland.

Put simply, the following names are now protected from misuse in Switzerland:

1.      Blue Mountain Coffee

2.      Boston Jerk

3.      Bustamante Jaw Bone/ Backbone

4.      Cannabis Sativa’ (ganja)

5.      Castleton Clay

6.      Catherine’s Peak water

7.      Jamaica

8.      Jamaica Clay

9.      Jamaica Logwood Honey

10.  Jamaica Rum

11.  Jamaica Scotch Bonnet Pepper

12.  Jamaican Allspice

13.  Jamaican Bammy

14.  Jamaican Bauxite

15.  Jamaican Bissy

16.  Jamaican Blue Mahoe

17.  Jamaican Bun

18.  Jamaican Cannabis Sativa (For e.g. CANASOL and ASMASOL)

19.  Jamaican Cedar

20.  Jamaican Cocoa

21.  Jamaican Easter Bun

22.  Jamaican Ginger

23.  Jamaican Gizzada

24.  Jamaican High Mountain Coffee

25.  Jamaican Jackass Corn

26.  Jamaican Jerk

27.  Jamaican Lignum Vitae

28.  Jamaican Limestone

29.  Jamaican Ortanique

30.  Jamaican Paradise Plum

31.  Jamaican Patties

32.  Jamaican Patties

33.  Jamaican Pimento.

34.  Jamaican Potato Pudding

35.  Jamaican Red Pepper

36.  Jamaican Roots wine

37.  Jamaican Thatch (used to make Brooms)

38.  Lucea Yam

39.  Manchester Peppermint

40.  Middle Quarters Shrimps

41.  St Andrew Thyme

42.  St Elizabeth Bammy

43.  St Elizabeth Escallion

44.  St Elizabeth Hodges Clay

45.  St Elizabeth Thyme

46.  Trelawny Yellow Yam

47.  Walkerswood Jerk

The JIPO (Jamaica Intellectual Property Office) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property are the Watchdogs to ensure that neither country breaches the terms of the BTA. Thus, expect more news of BTA's being signed with other territories to protect everything that's uniquely Jamaica, including Ganja.

Next stop: Ganja Decriminalization by Christmas 2013 and Legalization by the start of the Financial Year in March 2013!