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Biden Signs December 2 Law Blocking Cuban Trademarks, Secures Bacardi's Havana Club Rights

Dec 3, 2024, 05:15 PM

President Joe Biden has signed a bill into law on December 2 that bans the enforcement or validation of trademarks confiscated by the Cuban government. The legislation, supported by bipartisan efforts, aims to prevent intellectual property taken by Cuba's communist regime from being recognized in U.S. courts. This move directly impacts the long-standing legal dispute over the 'Havana Club' rum brand, solidifying Bacardi's rights to the trademark in the United States. The Cuban government has criticized the law, accusing the U.S. of attempting to 'steal Cuban brands.' The White House and supporters of the bill argue that it protects U.S. companies from intellectual property violations by foreign regimes.