 The Bremen Cotton Exchange
Issues the License of the
International
Cotton Emblem
Since November 2005, the
Bremen Cotton Exchange is the owner of the Community Trademark named International
Cotton Emblem granting protection to all countries of the European
Union (EU-27). Since then, licenses passing the right to use the International
Cotton Emblem have been issued to interested companies.
On February
2007 the Bremen Cotton Exchange started a co-operation with the Gdynia Cotton
Association (GCA) in Poland. Within the framework of a sub-license, the GCA may
grant the right to use the International Cotton Emblem to companies resident in
Poland. |
The International Cotton Emblem ... |
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- ... is a guarantor for top quality
- ... symbolizes the characteristic trait of your products
- ... highlights the natural fibre
- ... enhances the appreciation of your products
- ... is an eye-catcher
- ... supports the raw material cotton
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- Since numerous years the International Cotton Emblem has been the
trademark for products made of pure cotton.
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Originally, the logo was granted by the International Institute for Cotton
(IIC) in Brussels. To issue the licenses, the IIC had formed the Association for
International Cotton Emblem, an association founded according to Belgian law
with agencies in Arnhem/Holland, Frankfurt/Germany, Gent/Belgium,
London/England, Milan/Italy, Oslo/Norway, Paris/France, St. Gallen/Switzerland
and Vienna/Austria.
According to the regulations of the IIC, yarn
manufacturers, weavers, knitters or finishers, for instance, could use the
International Cotton Emblem in all areas of product labelling and advertising to
identify products made of pure cotton – e.g. on labels, packaging,
advertisements, brochures, catalogues, sample books, posters, installations etc.
After the dissolving of the IIC and consequently of the Association for the
Cotton Emblem in 1989, the emblem was de jure still protected. However, the
issuing of new licenses and monitoring were de facto terminated. The German
branch of the IIC continued its operations for a few years as the Cotton
Service Bureau in Frankfurt until its closure in 1997.
Some of
the activities of the Cotton Service Bureau were transferred to the Bremen
Cotton Exchange. However, the licensing of the International Cotton Emblem could
not be taken over for judicial reasons. Thus, the emblem was applied without
protection and observation, and sporadically misused for products made of
blended fabrics. In 2004, the Bremen Cotton Exchange opted for operating the
licensing within Europe considering that the International Cotton Emblem has
been anchored in the consumer awareness as the logo for pure cotton.
In November 2005 the European Trademark Office handed over the
official registration
certificate entitling the Bremen Cotton Exchange to the sole rights
of the International Cotton Emblem within the European Union (EU-27).
In
particular for the benefit of textile manufacturers and textile retailers the
Bremen Cotton Exchange applied for an extension of the trademark protection at
the EU-Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market for the labelling of e.g.
yarns, insulation material as well as apparel and textile goods two years later.
Therefore since May 2008 the International Cotton Emblem has been enjoying
protection all in all in the following classes according to
Nice
Classification: 17, 18, 22-25, 27, 36 and 39.
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