Protection of Well-Known Trademarks in Ethiopia: A Comparative Treatise under the Trademark Proclamation

Abstract

The purpose of this Article is to undertake a comparative survey of key issues that need to be addressed under the Trademark Proclamation with regard to protection of well-known trade marks in Ethiopia. In doing so, the Article attempts to evaluate the current system against relevant international instruments and best practices in an effort to bring the current standards of protection in the country close to that of the international community. In so doing this article finds that the Proclamation goes further to protect well-known marks than what would be required of it under relevant international instruments, a situation which should be reviewed in light of the need to balance Ethiopia’s domestic interests with its international commitments.

Keywords: Ethiopia, trademark, TRIPS Agreement, well-known trademark