To distinguish and protect the intellectual property rights of arts and crafts originating in the country, the CRAFT BHUTAN trademark logo will be applied. The CRAFT BHUTAN logo will serve as a collective mark for local producers of authentic Bhutanese crafts. The Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property launched the CRAFT BHUTAN logo as part of yesterday’s World Intellectual Property Day celebration.
Local artisans producing authentic traditional Bhutanese crafts who meet the eligibility criteria and comply with the rules governing the use of CRAFT BHUTAN can utilise the logo on their crafts.
The CRAFT BHUTAN logo will serve as a collective trademark, distinguishing authentic crafts from non-authentic ones.
The collective mark, CRAFT BHUTAN, will be implemented at 85 stalls in the craft market in the capital and across 26 clusters located throughout the country.
“Most of the consumers in the craft market are tourists, outsiders and officials who take items outside. Thus, it indirectly promotes the distinctive identity of the crafts. The message behind the craft logo is that the products are made with certain quality and consistency, while it also indicates the origin of these products,” said Tempa Tshering, Chief IP Officer, Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property.
He said that until now, the majority of local products have used the generic ‘Made in Bhutan’ tagline.
Meanwhile, the Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property also launched the National Geographic Indication logo.
A Geographical Indication is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation, or characteristics essentially attributable to a place of origin.
However, the National Geographic Indication rule needs to be endorsed by the Cabinet.
The department said the Geographic Indication will differentiate products in the market, allowing them to stand out from similar products produced elsewhere.
It will also prevent unauthorised producers from using the geographical name to label their products.
Meanwhile, PEMAKO, a luxury hotel chain, was awarded a certificate for being the first local trademark to register with the department’s Madrid system for international filing of trademarks since its inception in the year 2000.
The Madrid system allows trademark holders to register their marks in other countries of their choice.
The department has registered over 20,000 trademark applications from international applicants seeking protection of their marks in Bhutan so far.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Sherub Dorji
