Cote d'Ivoire currently does not have a national IP policy (see a listing of its IP texts on WIPOLex
here).* There is no listing of any IP policy formulation technical assistance (see WIPO database search results
here) so it appears that a policy is not yet in the offing. Bitterly disappointed and seeking comfort, this Leo looked up IP news and trivia that has a (sometimes tenuous) link to Cote d'Ivoire, some of which she shares below.
Cote d'Ivoire renowned for its soccer players, national soccer team (the elephants) and cocoa. It has a lot on the line as far as IP and trade in IP protected products and services are concerned.
The country is the world's leading producer of cocoa and there are significant concerns about sustainable cocoa farming, fair labour and pricing practices in view of the high profitability of end products such as chocolate bars and beverages. The trademark protection of these products has led to several disputes.
Nestle sources cocoa for the production of its Kit Kat from Cote d'Ivoire from where it committed to purchase fairtrade cocoa in 2009 (see
here ) and has since obtained
fairtrade certification for its UK Kit Kat products (see
here). In South Africa, Nestle has been embroiled in a trademark dispute with IFFCO over its Kit Kat brand. In November 2013 the Pretoria High Court ruled that IFFCO's Tiffany Break did not infringe the Kit Kat trademarks (see the judgement
here). Nestle is taking the matter on appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal (see media report
here).
After the vain search for IP policy but somewhat soothed by the above image, news and triva haul, this Leo is now going to have a break... and take a nap (not a Kit Kat!)
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*
thanks to Hafeni Ashimbonde for his research assistance.
