Turkish Company Wants to Use “Idaho” on Products it Makes, Idaho Says No

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho senators are acting swiftly to avoid a trade dispute with a Turkish agricultural group seeking to use the word "IDAHO" on products. The Senate passed a resolution Thursday urging Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter to take steps to fight those plans. The Spokesman-Review reports the agricultural group has applied to the Turkish Patent Institute to trademark IDAHO for plant and animal products.

If approved, the group could market products at home and overseas using the Idaho name. The Idaho Potato Commission and lawmakers like Republican Sen. Steve Bair of Blackfoot are leading the charge to reject the application. Bair says there is no intent to damage trade with Turkey, but it's critical that Idaho protect its intellectual property. The Turkish agency is now taking public comment on the application.