Director of the Patent Office Agris Batalauskis informed that the first place in the nomination Trademark of the Year for Latvia was won by the trademark Shake Me Up for Valmiera yogurt cocktail product line, while the winner in the nomination Trademark of the Year for the World was the trademark Riga Gold of Gamma-A LLC for golden sprats.
The winners were greeted on the significant date of April 26, when World Intellectual Property Day was celebrated around the world.
The Trademark of the Year competition has been organized by the Patent Office in cooperation with the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Latvian Designers' Society (LDS) for the ninth year already. It aims to recognise Latvian entrepreneurs who invest in creativity and are aware of the long-term benefits of protecting industrial property.
The prizes were presented in person by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Jānis Bordāns. The winners of the first place in both nominations received challenge prizes from the previous year's winners, which were Ilva Veidemane, Project Manager of the brand Kārums of Rīgas piena kombināts JSC (Trademark of the Year for Latvia) and Normunds Bergs, Chairman of the Board of SAF Tehnika JSC (Trademark of the Year for the World).
In his speech, Jānis Bordāns acknowledged that the competition was important for the entrepreneurs to evaluate the best brands and motivate others to develop the new ones. At the same time, the Minister of Justice emphasized that the protection of intellectual property was one of the basic elements of a competitive economy.
"Latvia's growth strategy provides for an economy based on innovation, and this is possible only if we can effectively protect intellectual investments of our entrepreneurs, inventors, and researchers. That is why the measures that promote the protection of industrial property are so important," emphasized Bordāns.
This year, 35 trademark owners fought for the victory in the nomination Trademark of the Year for Latvia. "The participants were rated by both the public and a competent jury. The companies from different fields of activity, from food production to information technology services, took part in the competition. Concern for intellectual property promotes innovation, so it is gratifying that an increasing number of entrepreneurs come to value it," stated Batalauskis.
'Through a trademark, companies convey a message about their product and its benefits. The clearer the message, the more qualitative the trademark on which consumer confidence is based. I believe that it is important for small businesses to take part in such competitions that give them the opportunity to present themselves to the public and present their products to a wider audience. I am really pleased that also big companies think about the development of their visual identity that contributes to their long-term success,” noted Chairperson of the LDS Board Kristiana Kazarjana.
In the nomination Trademark of the Year for Latvia, the trademark Rundāles ūdensdzirnavas, which represents the museum created in the cultural and historical object of Rundāle watermill, won the second place, and it was the logo Cafe Vizbuļi that won the third place.
"The FUTURUM economic index shows that companies that export their goods have always felt better than those who only work in the domestic market. That is why the Trademark of the Year competition gives an opportunity to increase long-term competitiveness in the Latvian and foreign markets, promoting the development of Latvia's business and economy," stressed Chairman of the LCCI Board Jānis Endziņš.
A total of 14 entrepreneurs participated in the nomination Trademark of the Year for the World. The second place was won by the manufacturer of wooden toys for children Flockmen LLC and its trademark Flockmen, and the third place was taken by the export brand of birch plywood "Riga Wood" created by Latvijas Finieris JSC.
There were also the sympathy prizes of the organizers of the competition. The Patent Office presented the sympathy award to the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics of the University of Latvia for the trademark Cert.lv, as well as to Smart Charcoal LLC, a manufacturer of restaurant quality briquette charcoal. LDS awarded its certificates of merit to the trademark Cert.lv and to Rundāles Dzirnavas LLC. Flockmen LLC received the LCCI’ s award. The Latvian State Radio and Television Center won the prize of the Latvian National Group of the International Intellectual Property Association presented by Member of the Board Jevģenijs Fortūna, for the educational and informative movement’s trademark digiTuvi. On behalf of the jury, Chairman of the Board of SAF Tehnika Normunds Bergs awarded Mārcis Elstiņš for the trademark Cafe Vizbuļi created for his café in Bērzciems.
The Trademark of the Year competition has been running since 2013. Among the winners of the previous competitions were SAF Tehnika JSC, Rīgas piena kombināts JSC, Zekants LLC, PRINTFUL LATVIA JSC, Labie koki LLC, Latvian National Opera and Ballet, Manilla LLC, MILZU! LLC, Jelgava municipality, Enogam LLC, Mārtiņš Barkāns (Abavas dārzi LLC), Rāmkalni LLC, Marine Insurance Services LLC, Latvijas Piens LLC, Lattelecom LLC, Spodrība JSC, Air Baltic Corporation JSC, Smalkais muslis LLC, Baiba Ritova, Omniva LLC, and others.