Rooibos Trademark Surrendered

Rooibos Trademark Surrendered

SILVER SPRING, Md.--The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) notified the associationthat Burke International, holder of the trademark name "rooibos",voluntarily surrendered the mark. Burke registered the rooibos trademark in1994; petitions filed with the USPTO stated the trademark was invalid as"rooibos" is a standard common name for the South African plant Aspalathuslinearis. The USPTO notification followed a January 2005 U.S. District Courtdecision in a lawsuit between the Republic of Tea and s and should be cancelled.