Legal Insights

The Growing Value of Domain Names in the Cannabis Industry
Josh Zetlin

The Growing Value of Domain Names in the Cannabis Industry

Domain names represent one of the most important, yet often overlooked, components of any cannabis company’s branding efforts. At a basic level, domain names allow consumers to find websites through easy-to-recall names (e.g. “www.rogowaylaw.com”) rather than the all-numeric IP addresses (such as “192.0.34.65”) assigned to each computer on the Internet. Each domain name is made up of a series of

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Did the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the “Farm Bill”) legalize CBD?
Josh Zetlin

So, did the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the “Farm Bill”) legalize CBD?

For years most only associated cannabis with THC, the most famous – and psychoactive – of the approximately 113 phytocannabinoid chemical compounds in the cannabis plant.  Lately, however, cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, has grabbed much of the attention from its psychoactive counterpart. These days it seems like new CBD-infused products hit our shelves every day. People can now buy

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Copyrights represent a key type of intellectual property for many cannabis businesses.
Josh Zetlin

Understanding Copyright Registration and Enforcement for Cannabis Brands

What Qualifies for a Copyright? Copyright is a form of intellectual property that grants the creator of an original work the exclusive right to determine whether, and under what conditions, this original work may be used by others. Under US law, copyright protection exists “in original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later

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California recently tasked CalCannabis with developing a process for licensed cannabis cultivators to establish state cannabis appellations - the CalCannabis Appellations Project.
Josh Zetlin

What the CalCannabis Appellations Project means for California Cannabis Cultivators, Manufacturers & Retailers.

Tequila from Mexico, Roquefort cheese from France…cannabis from Humboldt?!  Consumers around the world place great importance on the place of origin for many agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.  This trend holds true in the cannabis industry. Many in cannabis companies recognize the importance of promoting the geographic origin, otherwise known in trademark lingo as

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Copyright Protection for Cannabis Businesses
Josh Zetlin

Copyright Protection as an Alternative to Trademarks: A Guide for Cannabis Businesses

As most companies are well aware, a well-known brand (aka a trademark) represents one of a business’s most valuable assets.  Companies spend thousands of dollars and countless hours developing a distinctive visual look, crafting the perfect logo, and devising ways to make their product packaging stand out from the crowd of competitors.  It’s only natural for companies to vigorously protect

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