If you're building a brand in Canada, choosing the right trademark is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. A strong trademark doesn’t just help customers remember you—it protects your business legally and gives you the exclusive rights to grow with confidence. In this guide, we’ll walk you through five...
Amendments to Canada’s Trademarks Act and Regulations took effect April 1, 2025. These changes are part of the Government of Canada’s Intellectual Property Strategy. They give the Registrar of Trademarks new powers and improve trademark procedures. Main Changes at a Glance Here are the key updates that took effect today: New authority...
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office’s Trademarks Opposition Board has launched a new pilot project. This initiative aims to clean up the Register of Trademarks by removing inactive trademarks. Project Overview Starting January 2025, the Registrar will issue monthly section 45 notices on randomly selected registrations. These notices will target trademarks registered for...
November 1, 2024 - The delays in correspondence continue. For more information please see the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada’s latest update: click here. _________ October 10, 2024 - The Canadian patent industry is experiencing delays with the Canadian Patent Office (CPO) processing correspondence at this time. We advise that CPO has been in...
Effective December 1, 2023, significant changes are coming to the Canadian Trademark Opposition Board's handling of opposition and Section 45 non-use cancellation proceedings. These changes aim to streamline the process and reduce the overall time taken for resolutions. Here’s what you need to know: Reduced Extension Times From December 1, 2023,...
The following are frequently asked trademark questions and answers. These questions and answers are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute legal trademark advice. What is a trademark? A trademark is a symbol, word, scent, sound or phrase that is used to identify and distinguish the goods or services of...
The following are frequently asked patent questions and answers. These questions and answers are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute legal patent advice. What is a patent? A patent is a legal monopoly granted by the government to inventors for a certain period of time, in exchange for publicly...
Pros for filing US provisional patent application: Low cost: Provisional patent applications are generally less expensive to prepare and file than non-provisional patent applications. Quicker filing: If time is a factor to file a patent application, Provisional patent applications can be filed faster than non-provisional patent applications, as they require...
