Coffee company Java Republic says it will issue legal proceedings for defamation against the Irish Fair Trade Network (Fair Trade Ireland).
A statement said Fair Trade Ireland had threatened legal proceedings against Java Republic for alleged infringement of its trademark by use of the word 'fairtrade' in the company's tagline; 'Our commitment to ethical trade includes fairtrade coffee and direct partnerships with farmers and co-operatives'.
Java Republic is alleging that this threat was made public knowledge before it could respond, and that one of its largest customers was asked to withdraw products from its shelves.
Java Republic said it had been using the tagline with Fair Trade Ireland's 'full knowledge and permission', for over two years. It said it had started proceedings after failing to receive the apology it had sought.
