Columbia Gemhouse Attempts To Trademark The Term, “Fair Trade Gems.”
In what could have major implications for the entire gem community interested in Fair Trade Gems, Columbia Gem House is attempting to trademark the term, “Fair Trade Gems”.
From my understanding of this matter, if any one company owns the term “Fair Trade Gems”, no other company will be able to use it legally in the US.
In reaction to learning this, Greg Valerio, fair trade jewelry activist, founder of Cred Jewelers and a founding Board Member of the Alliance of Responsible Mining, wrote:
“This is contrary to the spirit of fair trade and contrary to the spirit of the movement as a whole. No one person or company can own this language. Therefore, it is a totally inappropriate for Columbia Gem House or any other company to try to trademark these generic terms. It will single handedly undermine any claim to being fair trade.”
“Plus, this language has been used for decades so how can any one company own the language? As one of the worlds leading international fair trade jewelers, I support this term being owned by everyone. This inclusive option is critical to everyone in the fair trade jewelry arena.”
During a search on the US Patent Office website, for Fair Trade Gems, I found this result:
Word Mark FAIR TRADE GEMS
Goods and Services IC 014. US 002 027 028 050. G & S: gemstones and jewelry.
FIRST — USE: 20040130. FIRST — USE IN COMMERCE: 20040130
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 77206368
Filing Date June 14, 2007
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Registration Number 3539053
Registration Date November 25, 2008
Owner: (REGISTRANT) Columbia Gem House, Inc. CORPORATION, WASHINGTON; P.O. Box 820889, Vancouver, WASHINGTON, 98682
Attorney of Record Joseph S. Makuch
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO — USE “GEMS” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register SUPPLEMENTAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
It should be noted the both Cred Jewelers and my company, Reflective Images, regularly purchase from Columbia Gem House and fully support that company’s outstanding work in the field of fair trade gems for the jewelry sector and the public.
