Canadian companies announce cannabis collaboration
21-08-2018
Danler / iStockphoto.com
While cannabis companies in the US can’t protect their brands with federal trademark protection, there are other options for them when seeking IP rights, as LSIPR finds out.
On October 17, many Canadians will no doubt rejoice as the country makes the recreational use of cannabis legal.
While several countries, including Belgium, Chile and Mexico, have adopted a policy to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of cannabis, and others have legalised the medical use of it, Canada will be only the third country to legalise it for recreational use. The other two countries are Georgia and Uruguay (while Israel is set to follow suit in 2019).
Trailing behind Canada’s liberal approach is its neighbour, the US, where cannabis is illegal under federal law; however, some states have legalised cannabis for recreational use. As the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will not register trademarks for goods and services that cannot be lawfully regulated by US Congress, cannabis-related products will not be granted trademark protection.
Life Sciences Intellectual Property Review (LSIPR) tracks the increasing challenges for intellectual property specialists in the rapidly evolving world of life sciences. From gene patents to stem cell research, we provide the very best news and analysis.
To continue reading this article and to access 4,500+ articles, our digital magazines and special reports published for LSIPR subscribers only then you will need a subscription.
If you are already subscribed please login.
Official LSIPR subscribers include:
Allen & Overy
Arnold & Siedsma
Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch LLP (BSKB)
Carpmaels & Ransford
Cooley
European Patent Office
Finnegan LLP
GH Research
Gowling WLG
George Washington Law School
HGF Limited
IQVIA
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Marks & Clerk
Mintz Levin
NiKang Therapeutics Inc.
Powell Gilbert LLP
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Taylor Wessing
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Valea AB
World Intellectual Property Office
For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription we can add you into for FREE, please contact Atif at achoudhury@newtonmedia.co.
If you have any technical issues please email tech support.
Cannabis, marijuana, federal trademark protection, Canada, US Patent and Trademark Office, illegal activity, Dykema, Cole Schotz, branding, trademarks