Stoel Rives partner Anne Glazer was featured in a recent Puget Sound Business Journal article on trademark protection for marijuana brands. Washington State decriminalized and legalized marijuana in last November's election, and the Washington State Liquor Control Board is currently in the process of developing a licensing system for marijuana producers, processors, and retailers.
While the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office cannot provide trademark protection because it remains a federal crime to sell marijuana, Glazer suggests that "it would be worth putting a registration in with the Washington Secretary of State's office, which also registers trademarks at the state level." She also suggests selecting a distinct trademark and avoiding the use of descriptive names associated with the product.
Read the full article here.
"Want to trademark your pot product with the feds? Don't hold your breath" was featured in a recent Puget Sound Business Journal "Biz Talk" blog post on March 15, 2013.