In our previous post, we touched on some of the interesting issues related to the enforcement of cannabis patents through litigation. In this post, we turn to an alternative to litigation to discuss some of the unique cannabis-related issues that could arise before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”).
Mike Annis
Mike advises clients on patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, trademark and service mark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising claims.
CBD in your Animal Food or Feed? Not So Fast.
Husch Blackwell attorneys, Mike Annis and Emily Lyons provide an overview on the latest from the Association of Animal Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding when and where hemp or hemp produced cannabidiol (CBD) can legally be used which could be of particular interest to animal feed and…
Unique Issues with Cannabis-related Patents and Their Enforcement
Chapter 1 – The Double-Edged Nature of the FDA Approval Process
2018 proved to be a very busy (and frankly dizzying) year for the cannabis industry as three more states, including Missouri, passed laws legalizing some form of cannabis use, bringing the total number of such states and U.S. territories to well over thirty, despite the fact that cannabis, and its use, remains unlawful, under federal law that is. Today, there are thirty-three states that allow for medical use of cannabis, while ten states have legalized the recreational use of cannabis. What is more, several state governments and governors are expected to prioritize new cannabis-related policies in 2019. As more states decide to permit various uses of cannabis, one issue that remains generally unanswered lies at the intersection of these emerging state laws and U.S. patent law, which falls within the exclusive purview of the federal government, both statutorily and in enforcement of patent rights.