Products and Services: a guarantee of regionalism for the Amazonian people

The Peruvian National Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) brings us the news that the Regional Government of Amazonas has received a certification mark. ‘Purum Machu’ is the selected certification mark for the region, which seeks to promote and boost the economy of the region. 

A certification mark, like its counterpart trade mark, is a distinctive sign that is applicable to both products and services whose quality is guaranteed by the owner of the mark. The development of the certification marks was brought by regional and local organizations aiming to differentiate products and services due to their territorial origin. ‘Purum Machu’ was registered for use on the Nice classification for products under 24 (textiles), 29(foodstuff of animal and vegetable origin), 30 (foodstuff of plant origin except for fruit and vegetables), 31 (land and sea products that are not I need of preparation for consumption),33 (mainly alcoholic beverages but beer); and services 39(transport of people, animal or goods) and 43 (providing food, drinks, and temporary accommodation). The request to be authorized to use the mark will be free for the first year. 

 In accordance with Andrei Guerrero Garcia, who is the Regional INDECOPI leader, ‘Purum Machu’ signifies, Amazonian ‘live culture’, ‘tradition’, ‘identity’. Purum means ‘savage’, ‘not Christianised’, ‘gentile’; and Machu that signifies ‘old’, ‘ancient’; these together identify the Amazonian region, and more specifically, the Chachapoyas (Warriors of the Clouds) culture. Searching at UNESCO ‘search tool’ just the word ‘Amazon’, one can see the wealth of culture that exists in the region which covers several South American countries. 

 Last year, around the same time, the INDECOPI granted for free 164 collective marks, which helped small organizations, including artisans, farmers, and a few directly involving ‘native communities such as ‘Comunidad Shampuyacu’; and ‘Communidad nativa Chirikyaku’.