Trademark

A trademark is a word or logo used by one person to distinguish goods or services provided by that person from those provided by another. The interest protected by a trademark is the “goodwill” of the trademark owner and the consumer’s ability to rely on the mark to distinguish the source of goods or services.

November 16, 2023
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Will the Third Time Be the Charm in This Design Patent Saga?

Fed. Cir. No. 2021-2299, 2021-2338: This is the second time the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has reversed a finding of infringement and sent the design patent back to lower courts.
September 28, 2023
Photograph of a young woman sitting on a blue chair and typing on an MacBook in her lap. Her MacBook is covered with tech-related stickers.

Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy for Entrepreneurs and Technology Graduates

Starting a business can be an exciting endeavour, but many early-stage entrepreneurs overlook the importance of IP in the success of a startup.
September 27, 2023
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Navigating the 2024 Fee Increases for Canadian Patents and Trademarks

On January 1, 2024, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) will implement a 25% increase in most government fees for patents and trademarks.
July 13, 2023
Glass of whiskey being poured over ice in a cocktail glass.

U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruff Take on a Trademark Parody

US Supreme Court, No. 22-148: Parodies are generally immune from trademark infringement, but how much can you spoof? Jack Daniels hounded a dog toy company for making a copycat toy.
February 9, 2023
Side view of a gray housecat's head against a plain gray background.

FCA Upholds Refusal to Grant “procat” Trademark

2023 FCA 4: The prefix "pro" did little to make Puma's "procat" mark distinctive over Caterpillar's CAT & Triangle Design.
April 11, 2022
Photograph of a beer tap in a bar showing the brewer's trademark on the label.

Cowbells Brewing Taps Out: Ontario Brewer Denied Rights to Bell Trademark

New trademark registrations can be opposed by business owners who are concerned that the mark would cause confusion with their own registered trademark.
December 29, 2021
Photograph of the "ZARA" trademark in a sign above a Zara storefront.

Trademark Opposition by Fashion Giant ZARA Remitted to Federal Court

The Federal Court of Appeal held that the trial judge cannot intervene in a trademark opposition decision in the absence of any errors by the Board.
November 3, 2021
A woman sits on a pink suitcase in an airport.

Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Appeal in Luggage Trademark Dispute

SCC #39576: Earlier this year, Travelway filed for leave to appeal with the Supreme Court of Canada over a trademark dispute with Wenger, the makers of Swiss Gear.
October 18, 2021
Photo of a yellow Caterpillar-brand bulldozer against a snowy backdrop.

Caterpillar Scratches Back: Puma Loses Bid to Register ‘procat’ Mark

2021 FC 974: The Federal Court concluded that Puma’s use of procat would likely cause confusion with heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc.’s ‘CAT’ trademark.
December 18, 2020
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Less Baggage: Trademark Registration Later Expunged Will Not Be Liable for Prior Damages

2020 FCA 210: Court held that parties are not entitled to damages or an accounting of profits following the expungement of an infringing trademark.
November 9, 2020
Electricity powering a lightbulb on a black background.

Official Marks Not Immune to Infringement Claims

SCC 39144 : Supreme Court of Canada confirms an appellate ruling which found that, while official marks cannot eliminate rights under prior registrations.
September 3, 2020
Photo of a glass, maple-leaf-shaped bottle containing maple syrup.

Learning From Aunt Jemima: Abandoning Offensive Trademarks in Canada

With problematic brands like Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben being dropped, how can brand owners prevent third parties from hijacking the discontinued marks?
June 4, 2020
Hand in rubber glove holding a spray bottle of bleach

Federal Court of Appeal Confirms New Standard of Review in Trademark Appeals

The Federal Court of Appeal (“FCA”) has clarified how Vavilov's standard of review will apply to decisions made by the Trademarks Opposition Board (“TMOB”).
April 3, 2020
An empty boardroom.

COVID-19: Time Extensions for Patents & Trademarks in North America

In this article, we explain how the intellectual property offices in Canada and the United States are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 23, 2020
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How the Supreme Court’s New Standard of Review Will Impact IP

2019 SCC 65, 2019 SCC 66 - The new standard of review will be applied to decisions by the Patent Office, Trademark Office, PAB, and TTAB.
January 17, 2020
Photo of two jars of weed for sale in a cannabis store.

Beat the Weeds: File Your Cannabis Trademarks in Canada

Because of the status of cannabis and trademark laws in the US, brand owners are looking to Canada to register their cannabis trademarks.
January 2, 2020
A set of symbols or abuse on a cardboard plate in the hands of a young woman. Disagreement on the online forum or on the Internet.

How FUCT Overturned the US Ban on Immoral, Scandalous Trademarks

Nearly 30 years after founding the streetwear brand FUCT, Erik Brunetti finally convinced SCOTUS to end a ban on "immoral" or "scandalous" trademarks.
December 16, 2019
Photo of the Raptors NBA logo on the court of Scotiabank arena

Clawing Deeper into the Monster v. Raptors Trademark Battle

The Raptors are tipping off against Monster, who allege the Raptors trademark featuring a clawed-up basketball is confusingly similar to the Monster "M".
August 16, 2019
A statue of Lady Justice.

US Supreme Court Lifts Ban on Profane Trademarks

SCOTUS, No. 18-302 (Iancu v Brunetti): In a recent decision, the US Supreme Court abolished the longstanding ban on registering vulgar and offensive words as trademarks.
July 19, 2019
Online shopping, keyboard

Ontario Court Backs American Decision to Penalize Online Counterfeiter

Dead End Survival, LLC v  Marhasin (2019 ONSC 3453) In the era of online shopping, it is easier than ever for counterfeiters to distribute fake consumer […]