Iceland to Protect Its Name

An agreement has been signed on cooperation in the protection of the country’s name Ísland or Iceland. The aim of the cooperation is to protect the image of Iceland and protect the interests of Icelandic export industries when the country name is used in marketing on foreign markets.

This is stated in a press release from the Icelandic Trade Fair.

The agreement has been signed by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, the Confederation of Icelandic Employers, the Icelandic Intellectual Property Office, Icelandic Trademark Holding ehf. and the Icelandic Trade and Industry Office.

“It is very important for Iceland that we continue to protect our precious country name Iceland and ensure that it is not misused. I welcome the fact that the parties are now united in building on the good work that has already been done in this area. I am confident that the cooperation between the business community and the government will further strengthen the protection and monitoring of the country name Iceland and thereby the interests of Icelandic business,” says Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The cooperation is based, among other things, on the Icelandic government’s experience of a long-standing trademark dispute with the British retail chain Iceland Foods, where the outcome was in Iceland’s favor.

Following the signing of the agreement, a professional council will be established, the role of which is to formulate procedures, provide professional support and protect the interests of Icelandic exports, the announcement says.

Trademark registrations abroad that contain Ísland, Iceland or related names will also be monitored, and the government will lobby internationally to ensure that country names are not generally privatized in trademark law.

A portal on the Iceland Institute’s website has been opened where the public, companies and institutions can submit suggestions about possible misuse of the country name abroad. The Iceland Institute will receive the suggestions and assess the grounds for action in consultation with the parties involved.

Source: Vísir (in Icelandic)