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DurhamCitizen.ca June 21, 2021 17

Controversy brews

over Michael B Jordan’s

J’Ouvert rum

OUTRAGED Trinidad and Tobago significance."
nationals on Sunday accused US Lecturer in Law at UWI St One woman mused,
actor Michael B Jordan of cultural Augustine Dr Justin Koo, an "We look for dat. This is
appropriation with the launch of intellectual property specialist, what happens when we
his new rum named J’Ouvert. clarified the issue on Twitter. are consistently ambivalent
A box set displaying the rum "If the trademark for J'Ouvert rum about our culture, largely
included a schematic of the islands is granted, this does not mean we ignore its historical, spiritual
of Trinidad and Tobago, plus a can no longer say the word and ideological significance."
written reference to Trinidad and J'Ouvert, this does not mean we
to J'Ouvert as a local celebration of cannot write J'Ouvert, this does not
emancipation and Carnival. mean we cannot throw J'Ouvert
Twi tter on Su nd ay saw an parties any more. appropriation.
outpouring of ire. "In relation to the J'Ouvert rum Minister of Trade and Industry
One man said, "The name, the trademark application, if that is Paula Gopee-Scoon told Newsday
name, the name is a problem sir! granted all that it means is that in the issue was "of extreme concern"
How you going to trademark this? the context of the United States of owing to the intellectual property
We need to contest this. This America where the trademark was question.
cannot pass." filed, no-one else can sell rum or “The first thing is to gather the two bottles of Angostura Bitters, Killmonger in Black Panther
One woman said, "Who gave him any confusingly similar product information to see if it is in fact so. raising questions as to whether (2018), and appeared in Red Tails
permission? Has he ever been to under the name J'Ouvert." Then working together with the Jordan had a commercial link with (2012), Chronicle (2012), That
Trinidad, or even played J'Ouvert?" Koo said a US trademark would intellectual property office of the Angostura either in the company Aw k w a rd Mo m e n t ( 2 0 1 4 ) ,
Others were unperturbed. only be relevant in TT if approved Ministry of the Attorney General, supplying him rum and/or in the Fantastic Four (2015) and Just
"Trinidad rum is much larger than here by Intellectual Property we'll do the necessary investigation two ventures matching of his rum Mercy (2019.)
you think. Many of the big brands Office or if the brand became quite and, as always, seek to support with the bitters, or whether the Last year, Time magazine said he
that you see have a Trini base," one famous worldwide or in the US or anything that is Trinidad but at the bitters stood on its own strength was one of the 100 most influential
man said. in TT. "But beyond this, there same time protect what is ours. there. people in the world, with People
Another asked if there was a local would be no repercussions for an "This is of keen interest, not only to Angostura’s public relations and magazine naming him the Sexiest
co-owner and noted Jordan has the application for J'Ouvert being the Ministry of Trade and Industry hospitality manager Judy Kanhai Man Alive and the New York Times
resources and fans to push the accepted in the US." but also to the intellectual property a n d e xe c u t ive m a n a ge r o f ranking him at #15 on its list of the
business. Newsday was unable to contact office of the Ministry of the marketing Hema Ramkissoon on 25 greatest actors of this century.
One woman mused, "We look for Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi or Attorney General, and the Ministry Sunday both opted to not In 2018 Jordan directed a short
dat. This is what happens when we Minister of Tourism, Culture and of Tourism and Culture. We all comment. movie, The Angel's Share, for the
are consistently ambivalent about the Arts Randall Mitchell, have an interest. Trindad and Jordan, 34, starred in the movies rum company, Bacardi, and owns a
our culture, largely ignore its respectively on the issue of Tobago is our interest." Fruitvale Station (2013) and Creed rum bar in New York named Las
historical, spiritual and ideological intellectual property or cultural The J'Ouvert box set also included (2015), with a top role as Erik Lap.

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