The No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act of 2023 significantly alters the landscape of trademark law by preventing US courts from recognizing trademarks "illegally confiscated" by Cuba, reshaping the complex ongoing legal battles over Cuban assets. This law particularly impacts the iconic Havana Club trademark, previously owned by Bacardi, which stands to benefit as Cuba's rights to this brand are curtailed in the US market.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla condemned the new legislation as "an aggressive measure against Cuba," warning that it violates international law and permits the appropriation of legally registered Cuban trademarks. This stance highlights the direct conflict between US legislative actions and Cuba's assertion of its own legal framework regarding intellectual property.
Johana Tablada de la Torre, deputy director for US affairs at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underlined the implications of this law for US trademarks in Cuba, stating that over 6,500 US trademarks are registered in Cuba. This contrast between the protection offered to US trademarks by Cuba and the newly imposed restrictions on Cuban trademarks in the US accentuates the ongoing legal and diplomatic disputes between the two nations.
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