Four Key Points for Evaluating and Protecting Your Canna-IP: What Should You Be Doing, Now (Live MBHB Webinar)

Tues., May 19, 2020 | 10:00-11:15 a.m. CT | Live MBHB Webinar via WebEx

With the continued rapid growth of all thing cannabis these days, canna-businesses have to continually ask themselves: Am I sufficiently protecting the intellectual property of my brand, business intelligence, and innovations? Understanding that many companies have focused on seemingly more pressing issues to date (e.g., regulatory compliance, real estate, POS systems, and banking), this webinar will address the unique challenges the cannabis industry faces in obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights-and the unequivocal importance of doing so in this space now. There is no “one size fits all” approach for IP protection in this industry, but four keys points for fashioning a comprehensive plan for your canna-business will be addressed, which include:  

• Patenting and monetizing cannabis innovations, including:
  • Patenting cannabis devices and methods of treatment surrounding hi-tech and biotech aspects of the cannabis industry; 
  • Patenting the plant itself; and
  • Once you gain a canna-patent, what you can do to monetize and/or protect your investment from challengers.
• Obtaining federal and state trademark protection for cannabis brands in light of:
  • The 2018 Farm Bill;
  • FDA Commentary and Memoranda; and
  • Recent judicial and administrative decisions. 
• Federal copyright protection for original works of authorship involving cannabis, including:
  • Logos/branding materials;
  • Educational and promotional materials; and
  • Other original works. 
• Other avenues for protecting your Canna-IP, including:
  • Trade secret best practices. 

Presenter(s):MBHB partners Nicole Grimm, George “Trey” Lyons III, and Brett Scott

McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP is committed to educating clients and friends of the firm with respect to significant developments and trends in the areas of intellectual property law.

NOTE: MCLE credit is not available for this archived recording. 

Access an archived audio version of this webinar here