{"id":97,"date":"2016-02-29T17:40:51","date_gmt":"2016-02-29T21:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/?p=97"},"modified":"2016-03-16T11:37:42","modified_gmt":"2016-03-16T15:37:42","slug":"top-ten-reasons-to-protect-a-brand-in-cuba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/2016\/02\/29\/top-ten-reasons-to-protect-a-brand-in-cuba\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Ten Reasons for U.S. Companies to Protect Brands in Cuba Now: Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every company \u2013 regardless of size \u2013 has a name and\/ or a trademark. Often, that name or trademark is a company\u2019s most valuable asset, and should be protected as such.\u00a0 Yet, historically, protection of trademarks in Cuba has not been high on U.S.\u00a0companies’ agendas.\u00a0\u00a0Protection of U.S. trademarks in Cuba is currently possible, is relatively simple, and is a smart and strategic business move: Below are\u00a0 five of the top ten reasons to seek protection of trademarks in Cuba now:<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Cuba Is A First-To-File Jurisdiction<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The first party to file for a trademark registration in Cuba is the first party to obtain exclusive rights in the underlying trademark in Cuba. This is different from the U.S. use-based system, under which a party\u2019s rights in a trademark are based on actual use of that mark in commerce, regardless of registration.<\/p>\n

    Without the requirement for use, (1) a U.S. company that has not yet entered the Cuban market can still lock up protection of its brand, and (2) an unauthorized third party (Cuban or not) can do the same. Even absent underlying use and good will, a third party \u201ctroll\u201d could obtain exclusive rights to a legitimate U.S. brand in Cuba \u2013 thus further underscoring the need to file now.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Because They Can . . . <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      It is relatively easy for a U.S. company to file an application for trademark protection in Cuba \u2013 indeed, it is no more complicated than filing in? the more common jurisdictions of expansion, such as Europe, Canada, or Mexico. The only requirement is that a Cuban lawyer handle the actual filing before the Cuban Office of Intellectual Property (OPCI). An application can be filed in Cuba on a number of bases, including under the Madrid Protocol, an existing foreign application or registration, or a direct Cuban national application.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. . . . And So Can Others<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Without demonstrating any actual interest, use, or bona fide intent to use a mark in Cuba, unauthorized third parties (they could be Cuban or foreign national companies or individuals, distributors, manufacturers, suppliers, etc.) can file an application and register a trademark in Cuba, thus acquiring exclusive and prior rights to that trademark in Cuba.<\/p>\n

        By way of example, one particular Cuban individual, having no apparent affiliation with or authorization from any U.S. entity, has stockpiled trademark applications for more than 65 well-known U.S. brands, for himself. Among them, CHASE, JOHN DEERE, and PIXAR.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. There Is A Three-Year Window Of Time Before A Cuban Registration Is Vulnerable For Non-use<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Again, unlike the U.S., there is no use requirement to substantiate registration of a trademark in Cuba, and a Cuban registration is not vulnerable to attack based on non-use until three years after the date of filing. The burden is on interested parties \u2013 and not the OPCI \u2013 to seek cancellation of a Cuban trademark registration based on non-use. So, for a U.S. company that may not be \u201con the ground\u201d yet in Cuba, and may not be for some time (if at all), the risk of attack on a registration for non-use should not be considered prohibitive.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Cuba Is An Open Market With Interested Consumers<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            U.S. brands have significant appeal in certain foreign jurisdictions, and this is particularly true where such brands have previously been inaccessible. Cuba is a nation of approximately 11 million consumers and is situated less than 100 miles from the U.S., and only about 330 miles from Miami. Cuban kids are into Taylor Swift and \u201cThe Big Bang Theory.\u201d They play baseball on streets lined with antique Chevys. The American influence on popular culture in Cuba is undeniable, despite more than 50 years of the trade embargo. U.S. brands are undoubtedly marketable in Cuba.<\/p>\n

            Please stay tuned for Part II, with five more reasons U.S. companies should be thinking about protecting their brands in Cuba . . . now.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Every company \u2013 regardless of size \u2013 has a name and\/ or a trademark. Often, that name or trademark is a company\u2019s most valuable asset, and should be protected as such.\u00a0 Yet, historically, protection of trademarks in Cuba has not been high on U.S.\u00a0companies’ agendas.\u00a0\u00a0Protection of U.S. trademarks in Cuba is currently possible, is relatively … <\/p>\n

            Continue reading “Top Ten Reasons for U.S. Companies to Protect Brands in Cuba Now: Part I”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":250,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,2],"tags":[81,79,84,23,74,54,82,80],"ppma_author":[96],"class_list":["post-97","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cuba","category-general","tag-brand","tag-christiane-campbell","tag-christiane-schuman-campbell","tag-cuba-2","tag-cuba-business","tag-cuba-trade","tag-opci","tag-trademark"],"authors":[{"term_id":96,"user_id":250,"is_guest":0,"slug":"ccampbell","display_name":"Christiane Schuman Campbell","avatar_url":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2017\/03\/campbellchristiane-125x150.jpg","author_category":"","last_name":"Campbell","first_name":"Christiane Schuman","job_title":"","user_url":"http:\/\/www.duanemorris.com\/attorneys\/christianeschuman.html","description":"Christiane Campbell has extensive experience with trademark maintenance and enforcement, including enforcement over the internet."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/250"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.duanemorris.com\/puertoricocubaandcaribbean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=97"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}