Theorizing about development in the post colonial world brings to fore a few issues that must firstly

464 Pages·2016·2.88 MB·English

GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE THIRD WORLD:
TOWARDS A STRATEGIC APPROACH OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN
JAMAICA – THE CASE OF BLUE MOUNTAIN COFFEE.

MARSHA SIMONE CADOGAN

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO
THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT S
FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSPHY

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN LAW
YORK UNIVERSITY
TORONTO, ONTARIO

September 2016

© MARSHA SIMONE CADOGAN, 2016.
Abstract

The dissertation is a critical analysis of, and engagement with agricultural and food
based geographical indications, the politics of development and international relations,
and the prospects of forming reformist linkages between geographical indications and
development in Jamaica and the Caribbean’s intellectual property landscape. A net
importer of intellectual property, Jamaica has yet to fully claim intellectual property as
its own.

The dissertation proposes that geographical indication schemes should be envisaged, and
practically function as part of Jamaica’s development policy. This approach calls for a
reformist approach to intellectual property in Jamaica, which includes an awareness of
the pitfalls of being a repository base for the hegemons’ intellectual property ideals. I
approach development and intellectual property rights in the Third World as two terms
that are often incongruent with each other, absent a participatory and strategic approach
to sustaining viable linkages between the two concepts. A c o u-hnet ge er m o n i c
i n t e l l e rcot pu ea rl t yp s t r a t e g y f o r J a m a i c a a n d t h e C a r i b b e a n f o c u s e s o n d o m e s t i c a n d
r e g i o n a l c o a l i t i o n b u i l d i n g b e t w e e n k e y s t a k e h o l d e r s , a p a t h t h a t i s n o t w i t h o u t i t s
c h a l l e n g e s .

B l u e M o u n t a i n c o f f e e i s u s e d t o i l l u s t r a t e a n d c o n c e p t u a l i z e a n o t i o n o f i n t e l l e c t u a l
p r o p e r t y w o r Tk hi ni rgd f Wpr oeomor pl dal e b a s e d p e r s p e c t i vs e : f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h o
w h o a r e o f t e n f o r g o t t e n i n B l u e. MI ocurni t ai ci na l lc yo f af de ed ’r se s vs a l u e c h a i n
do m e s t i c a n d i n t e r n at ht ia ot n aa lr e c hl ai kl le el ny g et so a f f e c t t h e p o s i t i o n i n g o f
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geographical indications as an intellectual property asset of development in Jamaica.
From the analyses, the most significant international issues relate to reciprocal rights
recognition for geographical indications and product pricing, a factor that is depe ndent
on consumer demand. Power and politics in the international relations of geographical
indications impact its ability to be a counter -hegemonic force in Jamaica’s intellectual
property futures. The role of Jamaica’s political culture in facilitating d evelopmental
changes through geographical indications is also crucial to the success of the initiative.

International jurisdictional differences over the precise scope of protection accorded to
geographical indications are a significant obstacle to the a dvancement of rights
domestically. The dissertation theoretically and practically tackles these issues, and
suggest policy recommendations to overcome identified challenges.

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Acknowledgements
I could not have completed the research without the help of some very amazing people
who provided intellectual and financial support throughout the years.

I must thank God for His strength and mercy.

I am grateful for the depth of support provided by my supervisory committee, Professor
Ikechi Mgbeoji, Professor Joseph Mensah and Professor Keith Nurse. Professor Mgbeoji
and Professor Mensah believed in me at a point when I was at a crossroads in my thesis,
and was unsure of the direction that my academic life would take. I appreciate their
continuous invaluable feedback during my research, thank you. Professor Nurse was
instrumental in so many areas, including in providing feedback on the conceptual
background that I wanted to focus on – the Caribbean, identifying a void in current and
relevant intellectual property rights conversation, and framing the research objective
around such issues. Professor Obiora Okafor provided constructive feedback on my
interpretation of Third World Approaches to International Law. Thank you, Professor
Okafor, and Professor Nurse.

I am thankful to the International Law Research Program at the Centre for International
Governance Innovation (CIGI) for the scholarship in residence that they provided during
a point in my thesis when I needed the solace of an unfamiliar space to focus on writing.
Thank you Oonagh Fitzgerald and Mona Davies.

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I am grateful to Yemisi Dina, Deodath Singh, and the entire staff of Osgoode Hall Law
School, York University, and University of the West Indies’ Cave-hill campus libraries
(Barbados) for all their assistance.

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Table of Contents
Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………………...ii
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………….iv
Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………....vi
List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………………….x
Acronyms………………………………………………………………………………...xi

Chapter One: Introduction and Background ..................................................................... 1
1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Research Objective ...................................................................................................... 8
1.2. Research Questions ................................................................................................... 12
1.3. Significance of the Study .......................................................................................... 14
1.4. Research Methodology .............................................................................................. 20
1.5. Limitations of the Research ...................................................................................... 23
1.6. Conventional Debates on Geographical Indications and Arguments Implicating
Development .................................................................................................................... 24
1.7. Thesis Framework ..................................................................................................... 27
1.8. Outline of Subsequent Chapters ................................................................................ 31

Chapter Two: Intellectual Property Rights and International Relations: A Third World
Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) – Constructivism Approach to Intellectual
Property Rights. ................................................................................................................ 35
2. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 35
2.1. Third World Approaches to International Law and Constructivism as a Construct
of Law’s Flaws and Potentials ......................................................................................... 36
2.1.1. Defining the Third World ................................................................................... 37
2.1.2. Linkages between Development in the Third World and International law ...... 41
2.2. The Concept of Development from TWAIL-Constructivist Perspective ............ 44
2.2.1. The Politics of International Law and Development ......................................... 49
2.2.2. Critique of Western Ideologies of Development from Third World Perspectives
...................................................................................................................................... 52
2.3. Intellectual Property Rights from a TWAIL-Constructivist Perspective ............. 64
2.3.1. Intellectual Property Rights and Development in the Third World ................... 73
2.3.2. WIPO’s Development Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals and Prospects
for Growth in the Third World ..................................................................................... 77
2.3.3. Other Coalition Platforms Implicating Development ........................................ 84
2.4. Policy as a Development Approach in Jamaica ........................................................ 88
2.5. Chapter Summary ................................................................................................. 99

Chapter Three: Geographical Indications and the Politics of International Relations-
Origins, Evolving status and Implications for the Third World ..................................... 101
3. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 101
3.1. Historical origins of Geographical Indications .................................................. 102
3.2. The Scope of Geographical Indications Protection in the TRIPS Agreement ... 112
3.3. Geographical Indications in the Doha Round of Negotiations .......................... 120
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3.3.1. Geographical Indications in the Doha Negotiations: The European Union’s
Position 123
3.3.2. Increasing the Scope of Geographical Protection under Article 23 ............. 125
3.33. Concurrent usage of Wine and Spirit Geographical Indications with
Agricultural and Food based Geographical Indications ............................................. 126
3.3.3. Validity of trademark Registrations vis a vis Geographical Indications ..... 127
3.3.4. Multilateral system of Notification and Registration for non-wine and spirit
Geographical Indications ........................................................................................... 128
3.4. The United States’ Opposition to Geographical Indication Extension .............. 132
3.5. Switzerland’s approach to Geographical Indications ......................................... 137
3.6. The Lisbon Agreement as an Alternative Platform for Geographical Indication
Protection ....................................................................................................................... 140
3.6. Examining Geographical Indications in Third World Societies: Approaches,
Interests and linkages ..................................................................................................... 148
3.7.1. Assessing Third World Countries’ Involvement in Geographical Indications
Negotiations ............................................................................................................... 149
3.7.2. Geographical Indications in the EU – Cariforum Agreement .......................... 154
3.7.3. Geographical Indication Legislation in the Caribbean ..................................... 159
3.7.4. Jamaica’s Geographical Indications Legislation .............................................. 159
3.7.5. Assessing the Linkages: Jamaica’s Geographical Indication legislation, The
EPA and Switzerland’s Geographical Indications Policy .......................................... 164
3.7. Geographical Indications and Food Products: Development Linkages .................. 166
3.8.1. Establishing Geographical Indications through Agricultural Initiatives ...... 167
3.7. Chapter Summary ............................................................................................... 176

Chapter Four: Jurisdictional Approach to Geographical Indications in Japan, the United
States and the European Union. ..................................................................................... 179
4. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 179
4.1. Japan ........................................................................................................................ 181
4.1.1. Geographical Indications in Japan: Recent Developments .............................. 181
4.1.2. The Unfair Competition and Prevention Act ................................................... 185
4.1.3. Scope of Trademark protection: “Use” provisions .......................................... 191
4.1.3.1. Registrable Trademarks ................................................................................ 193
4.1.3.2. Specific Provisions related to Collective Marks ........................................... 196
4.1.3.3. Well Known Marks – Scope and Limits ....................................................... 198
4.1.4. Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations Act Concerning country
of Origin Goods. ............................................................................................................. 200
4.1.5. Summary (Japan) ................................................................................................. 204
4.2. Divergences: Geographical Indications and the United States ............................... 205
4.2.1. The United States: Certification and Collective Marks ............................... 210
4.2.2. Certification Marks ...................................................................................... 211
4.2.3. The Test of Likelihood of Confusion .......................................................... 214
4.2.4. Trademark Infringement under section 32 of the Lanham Act and its
Applicability to Certification Marks .......................................................................... 222
4.2.5. Section 43(1) a and (b) of the Lanham Act ................................................. 232
4.2.6. Trademark Dilution and Famous Marks ...................................................... 239
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4.2.7. Violations of Certification Marks under Tariff Act, section 526(e) ............ 246
4.2.8. The Common law and Certification Marks ................................................. 248
4.2.9. Infringement actions: Choice of courts and costs. ....................................... 250
4.3. Geographical Indications in the European Union: EC Regulation 1151/2012 .. 251
4.3.1. Politics Driving Policy ................................................................................. 251
4.3.2. Judicial Interpretation of EC Regulation 1151/2012 ....................................... 263
4.3.3. Further Judicial Interpretation on scope of protection: Article 13(1) .............. 270
4.3.2. Generic names and Geographical Indications under EC Regulation
1151/2012: Article 6(1), Article 6(2) ......................................................................... 275
4.3.3. Relationship between Geographical Indications and Trademarks: .............. 280
Articles 14 (1) and 14 (2). .......................................................................................... 280
4.3.4. Expansiveness of EC’s Regulation: European Member States law on GIs v
EC Regulation on Geographical Indications v TRIPS ............................................... 281
4.4. The Implications of EC Regulation for Jamaica and Caribbean GI Right holders
in European Union Consumer markets. ......................................................................... 282
4.5. Chapter Summary ............................................................................................... 285

Chapter Five: Blue Mountain Coffee as a Geographical Indication in Jamaica ............ 287
5. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 287
5.1. Sample Size ............................................................................................................. 292
5.2. Evaluating Interview Data ....................................................................................... 293
5.3. Coffee Cultivation .............................................................................................. 294
5.3.1. Code of Practice for Coffee Cultivation ...................................................... 296
5.3.2. Environmental Challenges to Cultivation and Harvesting ............................... 298
5.4. Economic Barriers ................................................................................................... 305
5.5. Chapter Summary .................................................................................................... 318

Chapter Six: Critical Analysis of Blue Mountain Coffee as a Geographical Indication
Designation: Legal and Technical Framework and Assessment of Outcome ................ 319
6. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 319
6.1. Current Legal Framework for Blue Mountain Coffee in Jamaica .......................... 320
6.2. Blue Mountain Coffee as a Geographical Indication: Technical and Legal Issues 323
6.2.1. Technical Requirements .............................................................................. 324
6.2.2. Legal Issues: Ownership and Management of the GI Designation .................. 330
6.2.3. Defining Blue Mountain coffee as a Geographical Indication ......................... 332
6.2.4. Legal Cost of Sustaining a Blue Mountain Coffee GI Designation ................. 335
6.3. Blue Mountain Coffee as an Intellectual Property Asset: Integral Measures and
Policies ........................................................................................................................... 339
6.3.1. Cultural Heritage Tourism and the Concept of GI based Tourism .............. 342
6.3.2. Geographical Indication Based Tourism ..................................................... 345
6.4. Blue Mountain Coffee as an Asset of Development: Benefits .......................... 348
6.4.1. The Producer Group: Coffee Farmers and Increases in Income ...................... 348
6.4.1. Social Programs: Community Development Ventures. ............................... 351
6.4.3. Extended Employment Opportunities .............................................................. 354
6.5. Blue Mountain coffee as a GI Asset of Development: Challenges ......................... 354
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6.6. Further Assessment: Blue Mountain coffee as a Registered Geographical Indication
........................................................................................................................................ 358
6.7. Summary ................................................................................................................. 359

Chapter Seven: Jamaica’s Engagement with the International as Counter-Hegemony in
Global Intellectual Property Rights Regime .................................................................. 363
7. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 363
7.1. The Lisbon Agreement Negotiations and Jamaica .................................................. 368
7.2. Towards Reforming Jamaica’s Involvement in International Geographical Indication
Negotiations. .................................................................................................................. 372
7.3. Jamaica: Productive Engagement in International Intellectual Property Spaces 380
7.3.1. Representations on The Protection of Country Names under Article 6ter of
the Paris Convention in WIPO’s Standing Committee. ............................................. 382
7.3.1.1. Domain Name Registration – Protection Against Registration of Country
Names. ........................................................................................................................ 386
7.3.1.2. Conflicting Marks – Protection Against the Un-Authorized Use of Country
Names on Products ..................................................................................................... 390
7.3.1.3. Assessing Jamaica’s Arguments vis a vis Counterarguments from Member
States .......................................................................................................................... 393
7.4. Intellectual Property Counter-hegemony and Jamaica through GIs – International
Interactions and Involvement ......................................................................................... 399
7.5. Chapter Summary .................................................................................................... 405

Chapter Eight: Summary and Recommendations .......................................................... 407
8. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 407
8.1. Choosing Geographical Indication Pathways: Plan and Action in Geographical
Indication Strategizing. .................................................................................................. 410
8.2. Opportunity for CARICOM to promote a Regional Geographical Indication Alliance
........................................................................................................................................ 412
8.3. Countering the Non-Recognition of Agricultural and Food-based Geographical
Indications in International Jurisdictions. ...................................................................... 413
8.1. Conclusion – Further Research .......................................................................... 416
Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 417
Appendix A – Interview Guide ...................................................................................... 451

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List of Figures

Figure 1: Map of Cultivation Areas for Blue Mountain Coffee………………302

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