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| John McKeown |
To help you understand the new regime and the changes, the Analysis Editors at The Lawyer’s Daily and a group of experts have put together a series of articles written by leading practitioners. The articles deal with the above matters as well as Geographical Indications and Official Marks. The articles follow from the very successful Osgoode Hall CLE, April 30 presentation on this topic.
An overview concerning Canadian trademark reform
From 1953 until 2013, Canada’s Trade-marks Act remained largely unchanged (besides the welcome repeal of the old “registered user” system). However, starting in 2013, and continuing up to just weeks ago, successive Canadian governments have introduced sweeping amendments to the trademark regime. Some changes reflect the government’s interest in international harmonization of laws and membership in key trademark treaties, while others can be traced to trade negotiations, including with both Europe and the United States.
Brand clearance challenges in ‘use-less’ regime
After years of anticipation, on June 17 Canada rolled out significant changes to its trademark law. Among the important changes is the elimination of “use” as a prerequisite to trademark registration. While this change will simplify trademark applications, it also opens the door to an increase in “clutter” of the Trademarks Register, contentious proceedings and trademark squatters. Accordingly, suitable trademark searching, clearance and monitoring will become increasingly important — and challenging — under the new trademark regime.
Prosecution of trademark applications post June 17: A distinctive affair
The changes to Canadian trademark law and practice that come into force June 17 will significantly impact the prosecution of Canadian trademark applications. Applications will still be examined on substantive, relative and technical grounds, but there will be many additional considerations as well, with distinctiveness given much more prominence in examination under the post June 17 Trade-marks Act.
Peachy keen: How geographical indications could reshape how we view peaches
Canadian businesses have lagged behind much of the industrialized nations in their recognition of the value of intellectual property to protect their intangible assets. When we talk about intellectual property, most Canadians are generally familiar with the concepts of protection for patents, trademark and copyright.
Why uniquely Canadian official marks are trademark ‘on steroids’
June 17 was the highly anticipated coming into force date of the implementation of significant amendments to the Canadian Trade-marks Act under Bill C-31, and certain amendments under Bill C-86. One of the more notable changes that was introduced after June 17 under Bill C-86 deals with official marks, which are badges, flags, crests, emblems or marks that are essentially adopted and used by public authorities.
Canada's new trademark regime: Bad faith in opposition cases
With effect from June 17, opponents will no longer have available to them many grounds of opposition pointing to technical deficiencies in an application or flawed “use” claims. However, they will have one new “tool in their toolbox” when filing a statement of opposition against a trademark application advertised for opposition on or after June 17. This new ground of opposition, added by Bill C-86, will permit an application to be opposed on the basis that it was filed in bad faith.
What Madrid International Registration trademark system means to you
On June 17 Canada joined the Madrid International Registration (IR) trademark system. So why should Canadian brand owners care? As a Canadian brand owner you may now file in up to 103 other jurisdictions using an IR, including in key markets for Canadian businesses such as the U.S., China and Mexico.
Downsides of Madrid International Registration trademark system
On June 17 Canada joined the Madrid International Registration (IR) trademark system. In the first part of this two-part series, I explained why Canadian brand owners should care and I outlined the advantages of the IR system. In this second column, I talk about disadvantages of an IR and include some tips for moving forward.
John McKeown, counsel at Goldman Sloan Nash & Haber LLP, is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in intellectual property law (trademarks/copyright). He is the author of Canadian Intellectual Property Law and Strategy: Trademarks, Copyright and Industrial Designs. He can be reached at mckeown@gsnh.com.
Photo credit / incomible ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
Interested in writing for us? To learn more about how you can add your voice to The Lawyer’s Daily, contact Analysis Editor Peter Carter at peter.carter@lexisnexis.ca or call 647-776-6740.