The makers of the adhesive Gorilla Glue have settled with GG Strains LLC, the cannabis company with strains called Gorilla Glue #1, Gorilla Glue #4, and Gorilla Glue #5, in a trademark infringement case, according to a Cannabist report. The agreement does not involve any monetary penalties or transactions.
The agreement forces Las Vegas, Nevada-based GG Strains to transition from the Gorilla Glue names, any gorilla imagery, and similarities to the Ohio adhesive manufacturer’s trademarks by Sept. 19, 2018. The cannabis company must also shut down and transfer its gorillaglue4.com domain to the adhesives company by Jan. 1, 2020 – Gorilla Glue will not activate or use the website. GG Strains has one year to stop using the word “gorilla,” but would be allowed to reference its former namesake so long as it’s preceded by the phrase “formally known as” or on a “History” web page.
Licensees of the strain have 90 days from Sept. 19 to cease using the word “gorilla” and any associated imagery or trademarks.
Tom Hankinson, attorney for Gorilla Glue Co. said he hoped other cannabis industry participants “will respect these companies’ resolution of the matter.”
Ross Johnson, founder of GG Strains, said the suit and rebranding efforts cost the company $250,000 but the resolution allows the company to move forward.
“We’re going to survive; we’re going to overcome it,” he said in the report.
The rebranding plan will see the strains known simply as “GG1,” “GG4,” and “GG5.”