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Goods or Services Trademarks Canada

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Bill 96 and its impact on the French-language requirements in Québec

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The French language holds the status of official language in the province of Québec through the Charter of the French Language (RLRQ c C-11), thus making the use of the French language mandatory in all spheres of public life...more

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Bill 96 and proposed reforms to the Charter of the French language in Québec

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On May 13, 2021, the government of Québec introduced Bill 96 with an intent to “strengthen” the provisions in the Charter of the French language (the French Charter). We do not know whether Bill 96 will be adopted and, if so,...more

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Trademarks in 2020: Notable Canadian trademark cases and developments

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There were several notable trademark cases in Canada in 2020, including those addressing comparative advertising, depreciation of goodwill, brand parody, trademark ‘use’ in the absence of a brick-and-mortar location, and...more

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Federal Court of Appeal does not disturb lower court’s finding of 'use' for hotel services

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In a highly anticipated decision, the Federal Court of Appeal recently held that a trademark owner could demonstrate “use” of a trademark in Canada in association with “hotel services” in the absence of a brick-and-mortar...more

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French Language law in Canada: Part 2 – Inscriptions on products and accompanying documentation

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The French language holds status of official language in Québec through the Charter of the French Language (R.S.Q. c. C-11) (the French Charter). In a continued examination of the French language requirements for commerce and...more

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French language law in Canada: Part 1 - An introduction

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The Charter of the French language (R.S.Q. c. C-11) (the French Charter) was adopted in 1977 by the Québec government to protect the French language. The French Charter gives the French language the status of official...more

International Lawyers Network

Harry and Meghan’s trade mark problem – third party jumps on the bandwagon and applies to register same mark in the EU to cover...

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex submitted a trade mark application with the World Intellectual Property Office last year to register “SUSSEX ROYAL” in the UK, EU, Australia, Canada and the US. The application covers a range of...more

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Nice Classification with a trap – Canada introduces “class top-up” fees with no back door

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With the long awaited changes to the Canadian Trademarks Act and Regulations just around the corner, brand owners should be excited about Canada’s alignment with international trademark standards and the new opportunities...more

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SAVE MONEY: File your multi-class applications in Canada now

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In this two-part series, we will discuss important strategies to consider before Canadian trademark law changes on June 17, 2019, including tips that could save you and your clients time and money, now and in the future. ...more

International Lawyers Network

New Trademark Laws – Canada | Part I

June 17, 2019 is the big day – a day anticipated since 2014. The major changes to the Canadian Trademarks Act will be implemented on this day. What does this mean for trademark owners?...more

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You don’t need to build it for them to come: Federal Court affirms trademark “use” for services does not require bricks and mortar...

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Non-Canadian hoteliers have reason for celebration following the release of the Federal Court of Canada’s anticipated decision in Hilton Worldwide Holding LLP v Miller Thomson LLP, 2018 FC 895 (Hilton Worldwide)....more

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Peering over the neighbours’ fence: key differences in trademark laws between Canada and the U.S.

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As trade talks between Canada and the United States dominate the headlines, it is hard to ignore the strong economic ties between these neighbouring nations. For example, the total volume of goods exported from the U.S. in to...more

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The Trolls have arrived: Suspicious trademark applications on the rise

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In the wake of the 2014 announcement that the Canadian Trademarks Act would undergo significant overhaul, there was much speculation about how the changes would impact the behaviour of those filing trademark applications in...more

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Don’t let your brand go to pot (Part I): 4 things that cannabis brand owners need to know

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The Canadian federal government is moving quickly towards legalizing the possession and consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes. However, Canada’s cannabis industry is already “overgrown” with many licensed (and...more

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Six Key Trademark Filing and Protection Strategies for Canada in 2018

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As 2017 draws to a close and we begin to look forward to the new year, the countdown to the implementation of Canada’s new trademark law begins in earnest. Announced in 2014, Canada’s Bill C-31 is expected to be implemented...more

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