Trademark

Divisional Trademark Applications

On June 17, 2019, changes to Canada’s Trademarks Act came into effect, including the introduction of so-called divisional trademark applications. Seven months later on January 17, 2020, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office…

Business break-ups and trademark rights

In the absence of a written agreement, who owns and who gets to use the trademarks of a joint venture after the parties to the joint venture break up? That was the…

Latest New Policies from CIPO in Trademark Registration Process

From start to finish, the process of registering a trademark in Canada typically takes approximately 18 to 24 months. However, factors such as increased volume due in part to the legalization of…

Section 45 and use of a trademark with software

A recent decision in a proceeding under section 45 of the Trademarks Act (the “Act”) shows the difficulties inherent in proving use of trademark in association with computer software. The proceeding, Ridout…

Organic Kids Catering & design trademark rejected for (mis)descriptiveness

The Trademarks Opposition Board (the “TMOB”) has rejected an application to register a logo including the words “Organic Kids Catering” and images of children and vegetables, finding that it clearly describes (or…

Distributor’s bankruptcy does not excuse non-use of trademark

On May 29, 2019, the Trademarks Opposition Board (TMOB) released its decision in McDougall Gauley LLP v 2001237 Ontario Limited, a section 45 proceeding regarding the trademark TRAX Design (TMA651,790) (the “Mark”)….

100 Day Countdown to Canada’s New Trademarks Regime: A Brand-owners’ Guide

We are nearly 100 days away from the June 17, 2019 coming-into-force (or “CIF”) date for the significant amendments to Canada’s Trademarks Act. The amendments are primarily designed to ratify and implement…

New amendments to Trademarks Act will help prevent trademark trolls

Bill C-86, the omnibus legislation introduced by the federal government on October 29, 2018, includes some notable amendments to the Trademarks Act, including amendments that will help prevent trademark “trolls”. The new…

Trademarks and the Federal Government’s IP Strategy

Back in April, the federal government committed $85.3 million over five years “to help Canadian businesses, creators, entrepreneurs and innovators understand, protect and access intellectual property (IP) through a comprehensive IP Strategy.”…

Protecting Your Trade-Mark Rights: Police Them or Lose Them

Our friends at Ink Tank posted a great blog the other day about how other businesses can “tread” on your brand – knowingly or not – from “borrowing” distinctive elements of your brand, to unwelcome parodying…

Supreme Court ‘Equusteks’ it to online trademark infringers

This post concerns one of the two recent landmark decisions from the Supreme Court of Canada concerning territorial commercial interests on the borderless Internet. In Google Inc. v. Equustek Solutions Inc. 2017 SCC 34,…

GOOGLE: Still a trademark

Looking for the city’s most popular restaurant? Google it! Need to confirm a historical fact? Google it! Doubt as to directions? Google it! The act of “googling” has become common place and…

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