Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

[Badbrother]

Amanti coffee has registered the name Cup of Excellence here in Australia, and can potentially limit its use in cafes and roasteries.

They were made aware of what CoE is (a not for profit etc) but have still refused to let go of the rights.

This has the potential to be devastating for the Cup of Excellence program and its supporters in Australia. Please help by raising awareness of this, thanks.


Source:
Jason Scheltus
www.toomuchcoffee.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=114497

[beanflying]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

Sic em Luca Mark   Question is have they tried to Trademark it or have they just registered it as a business?

There has been an ongoing battle between Lion Nathan and a US company over the name Barefoot in the context of Alcoholic drinks. http://www.australiantrademarkslawbl...with-barefoot/ There is some similarities but they needed to claim prior and ongoing use seems to be one of the keys.

In the meanwhile not that I buy their beans AMANTI consider yourself on the blackball list of my coffee suppliers >

[Ben_S]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

Yeah, I saw this. Absolutely disgusting. What do they expect to achieve?
You would assume that a coffee company would have a degree of respect for what CoE tries to achieve.

I wonder if it is ignorance or a cheap attempt to make money off the back of a really worthwhile initiative.

Not that I would buy their coffee, they are definitely on my list of companies to avoid.

[Andy]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

Its nothing new really, Amanti have registered all sorts of names in the past that they had no real interest in.

a quick look in the yellowpages will show...


Amante Coffee
AMANTI# Espresso U.N.I.#
Amanti Gourmet Coffee
Amici Coffee
Amici Espresso
Australias Best Coffee
Bono Coffee
BuyCoffee.com.au
Caffe Vito
Cappuccino Coffee
Coffee Advice Line
Coffee Quality Institue of Australia
Coffee Tea Chocolate
Doctor Coffee
Espresso Coffee
Expresso With Attitude
Free Coffee
Ghiradelli Australia
Ghirardelli Coffee
The Healthier Coffee
Kaimak Coffee
Khalif Coffee
Kokora Coffee Blackburn
Latte Coffee
The One With Aroma
Organic Coffee Co.
Organic Flavour Co
Outback Coffee
Roasters Guilde of Australia
Rosta Coffee
Speciality Coffee Associates Australia
Specialty Coffee Institute of Australia
The True Blue Brew
World Coffee Aid


The ones that irks me far more than CoE are:
Roasters Guilde of Australia
Speciality Coffee Associates Australia
Specialty Coffee Institute of Australia
>

[Andy]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

In the Too Much Coffee thread Jason said:

"I think at the moment theyre looking at ways of having it excluded but they need proof that the term Cup of Excellence was used before 2008 to describe the competition. Which is difficult to come across!"

how about is one...

http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1120526174

Maybe CoffeeSnobs can claim the name in Australia and then give it back to the rightful owner!

[bjeck14]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1120526174

Maybe CoffeeSnobs can claim the name in Australia and then give it back to the rightful owner!

BANG! Good find Andy

[beanflying]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

Gee only 2005 ;D I did mean Luca too as he was referenced in the linked article but Mark is correct too

[runfast]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

they need proof that the term Cup of Excellence was used before 2008 to describe the competition. Which is difficult to come across!

It is mentioned here in 2003.

http://www.mountaintopcoffee.com.au/assets/HA%20Bennett%20-%20MTC%20Feild%20Day%20report%20_Oct%2003_.pdf

11:00am Global market demands for DGB. What is ?Specialty coffee?. Specialty coffee
trends globally. Cup of excellence. Purchasing DGB - from a roasters perspective, what
are the important issues. Perception of Australian grown from the roasters perspective.

[Andy]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

...yeah, but we also have the bag to prove(?!?!) it.

8-)



(boy, its been a LONG time since Ive seen that much of the Snobbery1 floor)

[Ben_S]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

I find it rather interesting that there is more emotion flying about over  who is and who is not included in the top cafes in Australia list in one newspaper, than a company cynically stealing a trademark.

It sets a really bad precedent, and the cost and effort in fighting this are diverting effort away from a really worthwhile programme.

I am not fully aware of the implications, but would be interested to know if you could not put CoE member on your business, or on coffee you sell if it was registered by Amanti.

[WSullivan]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

CS Lawyers assemble!!!!!! ;D

[acoggins]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

I find it rather interesting that there is more emotion flying about overwho is and who is not included in the top cafes in Australia list in one newspaper, than a company cynically stealing a trademark.

A sad indictment.

Hopefully the specialty coffee community can pull together to fight this one.  

[Dennis]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

I can only imagine that they arent doing well with sales and hope by registering these names they might supplement their income. :P

It really seems they dont care about or have any ethics.

Andy, if I can chip in some way to help defeat this, let me know.

[GregWormald]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

Registering a trade mark means **NOTHING** until you try and defend it in court--and you must defend it or lose it.

Any prior use is likely to make any defense attempt useless.

Greg

[Ben_S]

Re: Amanti registers Cup of Excellence in Australia

Registering a trade mark means **NOTHING** until you try and defend it in court--and you must defend it or lose it.

I think it is more than that though as well. They could serve some pig swill and call it cup of excellence (they registered the trademark) and it would then devalue the reputation of CoE to your average consumer. I think your average coffeesnob will know the difference, but your average consumer would not.