Getting a CBD trademark is not as easy as one would think. In 2015, Stanley Brothers Social Enterprises, LLC (“Stanley Brothers”) applied for registration of the mark CW (the “Mark”) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), for “hemp oil extracts sold as an integral component of dietary and nutritional supplements.” The USPTO Examining Attorney refused registration of the Mark on the grounds that the use of cannabidiol (“CBD”) in dietary and nutritional supplements was illegal under both the Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act (“FDCA”) and the federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”). An Applicant who has received a final refusal from an Examining Attorney may file an appeal with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) within six (6) months from when the final refusal was issued. On appeal, the TTAB agreed with the Examining Attorney that the CBD trademark should not be granted registration.
How can CBD trademarks get registered?
Trademark Refusals for Illegal Goods/Services
Whether CBD trademarks are registerable will depend on how they are used in commerce. Section 907 of the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (“TMEP”) dictates that “use of a mark in commerce must be lawful under federal law to be the basis for federal registration.” Prior to the passage of the Farm Bill, on December 20, 2018, all trademarks related to CBD goods/services were rejected for illegal use because CBD was then considered to be an illegal controlled substance. With its passage, the Farm Bill allowed for CBD products containing less than 0.3 percent of tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) to be: 1) sold in states that permit it; and 2) shipped across state lines. However, the Farm Bill did preserve the right of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) to regulate products containing CBD on a federal level. In accordance with its regulatory authority, the FDA has concluded that CBD may still raise lawful-use issues under the FDCA if used in foods or dietary supplements.
| Your education on compliance with Internet, telemarketing, and trademark law should begin with a discussion between you and an experienced attorney. Scheduling a free consultation with Klein Moynihan Turco is a great place to start. |
Registering CBD Trademarks
A quick search of the word CBD in the Trademark Electronic Search System (“TESS”) returns hundreds of results for CBD trademarks that are either pending approval, registered or abandoned. One deciding factor on whether registration will be secured is the description of use included in the applicable trademark application. For example, marks for non-medicated topical skin and body oils containing CBD are much more likely to obtain registration than the subject Stanley Brothers description of “hemp oil extracts sold as an integral component of dietary and nutritional supplements.”
For guidance, the USPTO’s Examination Guide 1-19 can assist one in learning about the process of registering CBD trademarks. Additionally, consulting with a trademark attorney can help identify important trademark issues and clear the easiest path towards registration.
If you are looking to register a CBD trademark, please e-mail us at info@kleinmoyihan.com, or call us at (212) 246-0900.
The material contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice, nor is it a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney. Each situation is unique, and you should not act or rely on any information contained herein without seeking the advice of an experienced attorney.
Attorney Advertising
Related Blog Posts:
Jack Daniels Chewed Up by Trademark Law
Responding to Trademark Office Actions
Tom Brady’s “Tom Terrific” Trademark Application Sacked by Trademark Law
