Denver and the USPTO abuzz with 420

According to NewYork.Newsday.com and the WashingtonTimes.com, today — April 20th — is a counter-culture /cannabis-culture holiday referred (or should I say reefered?) to as “four-twenty.” Apparently, it also is customary to smoke pot at 4:20 pm, which explains the frequent lines at snack and smoothie shops between 4:30-5 each afternoon (just watch, now you’ll start noticing it too).

Back in August, 2010 I questioned, “Has the PTO Gone to Pot?” Apparently not, so can the USPTO really tell us something about this cannabis cultivating counter-culture? Of course! 

Although marijuana first was classified as Cannabis sativa by taxonomist Carl Linnaeus way back in 1753, the first counter culture registration application for 420 was not filed until August, 1995 for “shirts, shorts and hats.” That mark was never registered due to the Applicant’s failure to provide evidence of use of the mark (how ironic). The next application wasn’t filed until February, 2006 for “posters, bags, shirts & hats & buttons.” That application was expressly abandoned a year later, costing the Applicant $1,300 in filing fees. The first two counter-culture 420 trademarks to become registered were for apparel and sunglasses and belonged to John Marvin Rowland of Santa Ana, California. Both registrations were cancelled in 2008 after Mr. Rowland failed to file the first ten-year renewal. The next 420 mark to become registered was 420 INDIA PALE ALE for beer, which was registered in 1997 and remains registered. Following that was 420 for watches which also ironically remains registered.

Of the 205 USPTO 420 records that have been filed since 1995, 182 of them probably pertain to pot! Of those, 63 applications are for apparel marks, 20 of which remain LIVE. Presently, there are 77 LIVE PTO records, of which 48 are registered and 29 are pending. Of those that are registered, these are my favorite:

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MUNCHIES 420 for restaurant services

420 PIZZA for pizza & owned by Dad & Dude Breweria (I wonder what they offer for toppings)

420 TRAIN WRECK for internet radio station that plays rock and space music

420 POPS for candy (undoubtedly herb infused)

420 GIRLS for women smoking and posing with Cannabis, adult-themed and cannabis-themed photographs

420Nurses for advertising and marketing services, namely, modeling services for advertising or sales promotion

and the hands down winner:

420Dude for legal services. In Texas! (Yes, really!)

[/framed_box] At least based on what we’ve seen at the USPTO, no one can accuse stoners of lacking creativity. 

Speaking of creativity, the image of the cultural icon at the top of the page is a great example of a trademark parody — poking fun at the ubiquity of McDonald’s and marijuana. I wonder which is healthier. Maybe that can be Morgan Spurlock’s next documentary adventure?