The protection of Geographical Indications and Trademarks in Burundi

Geographical Indications and trademarks are two different intellectual property protection tools that share a certain number of features. In this research paper, the author explores those tools, their key similarities and differences while assessing how they can be used to protect Burundi coffee. The study was motivated by the fact that Burundi coffee industry is confronted with a serious challenge of raising the revenue of coffee growers. Failing to see their efforts rewarded effectively, coffee growers destroy their farms and replace them by other plants and therefore abandon coffee farming activity, resulting in great loss to the Burundi economy which highly relies on coffee export. This coffee which is mostly known under the name "Burundi coffee" is sold at the market under different brands created by foreign companies. Assuming that intellectual property can help to address this challenge, this study was conducted in order to establish a proper mechanism of protection of coffee from Burundi that can stimulate profitability and growth in the coffee industry. The end objective is to better position farmers to derive better rewards from their coffee-growing activity.