The number of patents that Cuba has filed and been awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has steadily increased for almost the past ten years, mainly, because of its burgeoning biotech industry, reports El Nuevo Herald. Cubans have been awarded 74 patents since the Patent and Trademark Office’s records were digitized in 1975.
In the 1970’s and 80’s, many patents filed and awarded to Cubans were for agricultural advancements. Later, the majority have covered pharmaceuticals, medical procedures and biotechnology advances.
The relative quiet and lack of rancor that has accompanied the patent filings by Cubans over the years in various industries is in stark contrast to the battles that have beleaguered the U.S. cigar industry. As it is now, both U.S. companies and Cuba’s Habanos S.A. claim the trademarks formerly owned by several cigar families, now exiled in the U.S. and elsewhere.
While Cuba ramps up the number of patents it’s registering with the Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. companies have registered around 7,000 brands with the Cuban Office of Industrial Property.
It has been mostly smooth sailing for U.S. companies desiring to claim intellectual property rights in Cuba, however the pharmaceutical industry is now finding itself in a similar situation as the U.S. cigar industry; Cuba has proclaimed it is joining forces with Brazil to produce versions of HIV/AIDS drugs already patented in the United States, says the El Nuevo Herald.

The number of patents that Cuba has filed and been awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has steadily increased for almost the past ten years, mainly, because of its burgeoning biotech industry, reports El Nuevo Herald. Cubans have been awarded 74 patents since the Patent and Trademark Office’s records were digitized in 1975.

In the 1970’s and 80’s, many patents filed and awarded to Cubans were for agricultural advancements. Later, the majority have covered pharmaceuticals, medical procedures and biotechnology advances.

The relative quiet and lack of rancor that has accompanied the patent filings by Cubans over the years in various industries is in stark contrast to the battles that have beleaguered the U.S. cigar industry. As it is now, both U.S. companies and Cuba’s Habanos S.A. claim the trademarks formerly owned by several cigar families, now exiled in the U.S. and elsewhere.

While Cuba ramps up the number of patents it’s registering with the Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. companies have registered around 7,000 brands with the Cuban Office of Industrial Property.

It has been mostly smooth sailing for U.S. companies desiring to claim intellectual property rights in Cuba, however the pharmaceutical industry is now finding itself in a similar situation as the U.S. cigar industry; Cuba has proclaimed it is joining forces with Brazil to produce versions of HIV/AIDS drugs already patented in the United States, says the El Nuevo Herald.