Starbucks reaches deal with Ethiopia

Starbucks Corp. agreed to license Ethiopian coffee, ending a dispute over the country’s efforts to trademark its beans.

Starbucks, which had resisted Ethiopia’s bid for a trademark, will license and distribute coffee from the country’s Harar, Sidamo and Yirgacheffe regions, the company and Ethiopia’s trademark office said.

Starbucks last year wanted Ethiopia to seek the type of geographical certification that protects Italy’s Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and France’s Bordeaux wines. The company said this year that it wouldn’t oppose Ethiopia’s trademark efforts.