intellectual property

Cannabis Intellectual Property

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Your brand is one of your biggest assets. We can help you keep it safe.

Harris Sliwoski’s cannabis intellectual property (IP) attorneys draw on deep industry knowledge and nationally acclaimed intellectual property experience to develop proactive strategies for the long-term protection of our clients’ brands.

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Build Your Brand With Cannabis Trademark Lawyers

Cannabis businesses contend with a variety of complex legal issues as they seek to register, protect and license their trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other intellectual property. Since federal IP laws have failed to keep pace with state-level cannabis laws, companies should remain aware of legal restrictions impacting how they safeguard and leverage their cannabis brands and intellectual property rights.

We represent some of the biggest names in the cannabis industry and are experienced in the particular challenges cannabis companies encounter in securing and protecting their IP. Our cannabis IP attorneys help businesses maintain control over their IP assets while accounting for the cannabis industry’s distinctive characteristics.

You’ve worked hard to build your brand. Protect your assets with an intellectual property plan that’s built to last.

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Services Our Cannabis Intellectual Property Lawyers Provide

Our cannabis intellectual property services are outlined below.

Brand establishment and support

Leave it to our cannabis trademark law firm to help get your business off the ground and protect images, product names and services surrounding your cannabis company. We support up-and-coming cannabis businesses and established entrepreneurs.

Stay in solid legal standing when mapping out what designs and slogans will reflect your mission.

Trademark registration

Our cannabis trademark lawyers are on your side to prove your ownership over your intellectual property so that no one else can claim it. The trademark registration process can be extensive — our lawyers know how to navigate complicated waters.

IP licensing

Our IP licensing services are excellent for cannabis companies hoping to distribute. Secure the rights to your product names, and allow others to sell what you offer according to specific terms.

Whether you are considering royalty deals or charging fees to outside parties, you can rely on our cannabis trademark lawyers to look out for you.

IP contract drafting and negotiation

Understand all that goes into making a deal with a third party. Allow others in the cannabis industry to use your intellectual property based on guidelines you set. We strive to give you prolonged protection and help you form transparent agreements with shareholders, distributors, real estate professionals and employees.

State and federal trademark clearance searches

Our cannabis trademark lawyers are here to complete in-depth searches around the trademarks you want. We verify with authoritative sources that your trademarks are unique from other goods.

Counseling on Trademark Law and Cannabis Intellectual Property

Get a grasp on the legal terms surrounding trademarks and intellectual property. Harris Sliwoski makes it straightforward to follow along with our trademark filing process, keeping you in the loop from the moment we begin representing you.

Trade secret agreements

Keep your cannabis cultivation processes a secret from competitors. We help you form strong relationships with distributors in the industry without giving away what makes your products one of a kind.

Registration and screening of state trademarks

We’re a cannabis law firm that streamlines the process of getting a state trademark issued by an applicable office. State trademarks can be acquired quicker than federal counterparts.

Enforcement and Policing of Registered Trademarks

One of our cannabis trademark attorneys will stand by you when there is evidence of competitors violating intellectual property laws. Our team supports you when matters become litigious.

Domain Name Disputes

Your cannabis business likely has an online presence. Secure your company’s domain name so that customers know it’s your brand on the opposite end. Ensure other sites are not using your company name illegitimately.

Copyrights

Harris Sliwoski knows the ins and outs of copyright laws in the cannabis industry. Promote your products and take a focused approach to fighting off counterfeit brands attempting to profit off of your brand.

IP Litigation

Take care of legal disputes with peace of mind. Our lawyers and attorneys know how to win thanks to staying in tune with cannabis regulators. We’re aware of recent changes taking place in your location and keep your business out of financial trouble.

Why Trust Harris Sliwoski Cannabis Intellectual Property Lawyers?

With so many levels of government involved, you need an IP protection lawyer that knows how to navigate the environment. We continually earn our clients’ trust through our:

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Full-Service Planning for Legal Service Surrounding Cannabis

The Harris Sliwoski team will help you get the protection your IP deserves with practical and effective legal advice. Take the next step to more business security by requesting your consultation today.

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Get in Touch with Our Cannabis Intellectual Property Lawyers

Get started by filling out the form, or call 1-888-330-0010 to schedule an initial consultation.

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Our Clients' Successes

“Harris Sliwoski expertly guided us through the formation of our company. They continue to assist with necessary registrations and compliance with numerous regulations. They were able to promptly answer all our many questions and provide understandable options, explanations and practical advice. We expect to continue to use Harris Sliwoski on a regular basis as our company expands. They were also able to introduce us other professional experts. We would not hesitate to recommend Harris Sliwoski to any companies in need of legal advice.”

user icon Three Continents Foods LLC

This law firm was a huge help as our company went through the process of commercial licensing in the California cannabis industry.  They have helped us with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while clearly communicating with us throughout the process.  Everyone we’ve worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field and we have always felt that we were in good hands through our legal representation.

user icon Wil Crummer, CEO PRO Farms

Legal stuff is always scary. And I’ve had to play offense a couple times, begrudgingly. To have Harris Sliwoski have my back? It made things a lot less prickly. They quickly walked me through my options, and were refreshingly consistent in their communications, timing and billing. I’ve been lucky to stay out of the legal side of things my whole career, thankfully. When things went a little wrong, Harris Sliwoski quickly made things right.

user icon Aaron Draplin, Founder Draplin Design Co.

I am impressed with this law firm. They answered all my questions regarding cannabis businesses and the California cannabis framework, and they have helped me with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while always clearly communicating with us throughout the process. They also redirected me to other quality people for my business needs. Everyone I worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field, and I was in good hands throughout my legal representation.

user icon Corey T., CEO Thinc Cubed, LLC

I have been working with the lawyers at Harris Sliwoski for more than 20 years both as a business owner and as an executive at a large east-coast health system and that is because they have always efficiently provided high level and clear international law advice. Most recently, Harris Sliwoski provided legal support on many matters related to procuring medical products worldwide. Their support was particularly helpful to during the onset of COVID, when there was a big need for securing PPE quickly, all while navigating complicated international and domestic legal requirements. Harris Sliwoski’s team of international lawyers helped by conducting rapid-fire due diligence on potential suppliers, navigating the legal logistics for getting product from overseas and through U.S. customs, and drafting contracts to protect against various sorts of horribles. They did this by essentially providing what amounted to 24/7 service. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

user icon Dan Pak Hospital Supply Chain Executive

Harris Sliwoski has represented our company in the legal cannabis industry for years. Harris Sliwoski has advised us in a wide variety of legal matters, and they are truly experts in their field. I would highly recommend Harris Sliwoski to anyone with questions about cannabis law, or any legal matters. They have been great for our Company, and will continue to guide us as our industry evolves

user icon Matt Hurt, COO Cannabis Nation

You won’t find a better partner than Harris Sliwoski when trying to navigate the complex world of healthcare regulations.  They not only give sound and reliable legal advice, but they are also very responsive and are able to guide you in a way that helps you reach your business objectives as well.

user icon Joseph Axelrod, General Counsel Irwin Naturals

When we started the process of building a ‘seed to sale’ cannabis company in Oregon, we saw the need for expert legal counsel.  The cannabis sector is fraught with potential peril at every turn, and we wanted the best legal advice we could find.  After talking to several firms and individuals, we feel extremely fortunate to have chosen Harris Sliwoski as our legal counsel.

user icon Tony Theiss, CEO and Co-Founder Redbarn Cannabis 

We use Harris Sliwoski on all our international legal matters, including on our international litigation matters. We have over the last few years been involved in a couple big international legal disputes and Harris Sliwoski’s international dispute resolution team provided us with expert legal assistance on both matters. They were always very careful to explain to us what they were doing and why and what their actions would likely cost us in legal fees. Most importantly, we did extremely well on both cases and I have no doubt Harris Sliwoski was a big factor in that.

user icon Kevin English, CEO We Are Camp

We have used Harris Sliwoski for legal help related to our international manufacturing. The lawyers with whom I worked had extensive familiarity with the international legal issues involved in our various projects and offered us key insights. I particularly appreciated how they always quickly and efficiently do what they say they will do and always within their cost estimates.

user icon Andrea Barona Valladolid, Senior Legal Counsel Fairphone

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover answers to the cannabis intellectual property questions our clients commonly ask.

Can I Patent My Cannabis Business's IP?

Many cannabis-based companies have patent rights spanning a wide range of assets. The following are generally eligible for patent filing:

  • Plant strains you create
  • Proprietary blends
  • Processes
  • Cultivation techniques
  • Equipment you’ve invented, such as a vaporizer

Obtaining federal patents can be challenging since cannabis is not yet legal nationally. A Harris Sliwoski IP attorney can help you identify patentable assets and create a protection strategy to safeguard them.

What Do My Copyrights Cover?

Copyrights cover original creative works. The protection extends to assets like your website content, videos, and more. The illegality of cannabis at the national level is generally not applicable to copyright protection. So, your business can enforce the laws to prevent someone from distributing, reproducing, or displaying your creative works without permission.

Our cannabis IP attorneys will consult with you about eligible assets and develop protection for them.

What IP Assets Are Eligible for a Cannabis Trademark?

This protection applies to any name, phrase, symbol, or other asset you use for marketing that a customer associates with your brand. As a result of this broad scope, your business may have many assets to protect.

Trademark laws are crucial to help you prevent a competitor from profiting off of your successful brand-building. They’re also vital for your customers’ protection because they help establish your products’ authenticity. While federal trademarks can be challenging to obtain, many states have enacted protection laws that cannabis businesses can benefit from.

An experienced cannabis trademark lawyer from Harris Sliwoski will help you identify which assets are eligible and at which government levels. They’ll also design a robust strategy to protect your trademarks.

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