ADVICE CENTER
27 February 2015

Trademark Filing Requirements

SB
Smart & Biggar

Contributor

Smart & Biggar uncovers and maximizes intellectual property and technology assets for our clients. Today’s fast-paced innovation economy demands a higher level of expertise and attention to detail when it comes to IP strategy and protection. With over 125 lawyers, patent agents and trademark agents collaborating across five Canadian offices, Smart & Biggar is trusted by the world’s leading innovators to find value in their IP rights. As market leaders in IP, Smart & Biggar’s team is on the pulse when it comes to the latest developments and the wider industry changes that impact our clients. To stay informed, visit smartbiggar.ca/insights, including access to our RxIP Update (smartbiggar.ca/insights/rx-ip-updates), a monthly digest of the latest decisions and law surrounding the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries.
A summary for the Trademark filing requirements.
Canada Intellectual Property

Required To Obtain a Filing Date

  • Name and address of applicant.
  • Trademark, including a drawing in the case of a design mark.
  • Description of wares and/or services.

The date of first use or making known in Canada (if application based on use or making known in Canada).

If application is based on use and registration abroad, to ensure initial application is complete:

  1. details (serial number, date, and wares and/or services) of foreign registration or pending application, and
  2. wares and/or services used abroad if not as broad as the wares and/or services covered by the foreign registration/application.

Required To Complete Application

With respect to the following, there is no time limit for completion, but if not enclosed at the time of filing, a request will be made in the first office action:

In the case of a design mark, one formal drawing in black and white no larger than 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" showing the mark as used. We can prepare formal drawings upon receipt of a clear copy (paper or electronic) of the mark.

If the application is based on use and registration abroad, a certified copy of the foreign registration relied upon, together with a translation into English or French.

Convention Priority

A claim to convention priority must be made at the time the application is filed, and the country and filing date must be given. The serial number of the foreign application will be required, but it can be submitted later. A certified copy of the priority application is not normally required unless the Registrar asks for it.

Notes

1. Execution of Application

It is not necessary to have the trademark application executed by the applicant, or to file any other document signed by the applicant. We can sign the application as agents of the applicant and can prepare, sign, and file the application on the basis of information supplied.

2. Wares and Services

There is no classification system in Canada, and a single trademark application may include any number of wares and/or services. However, before the application will be accepted, the wares and/or services included must be defined specifically in ordinary commercial terms. The application may be amended after filing to limit the wares and/or services, but not to extend them.

3. Basis For Application

The application may be based upon:

  1. Use in Canada
  2. proposed use in Canada
  3. making known in Canada, or
  4. use and registration abroad.

Two or more of these bases may be relied upon, except that both use in Canada and proposed use in Canada may not be relied upon in the same application for the same wares or services.

When the application is based on proposed use, priority is obtained as of the filing date, but the mark must be used in Canada and a declaration of use filed before the application will issue to registration.

When the application is based on use or making known in Canada, the date of first use or making known must be given on filing. This information cannot be added later by amendment.

An application based on use and registration abroad may be filed before the foreign application issues to registration, but the Canadian application will not be accepted for advertisement until the foreign application issues to registration and a certified copy thereof, together with a translation into English or French, is filed.

The application may be properly based on use and registration abroad only where the mark has been used abroad before advertisement of the trademark application in Canada.

Full Registrability Search

A search of the Canadian Register of Trade-marks, corporate/company names, trading styles, and common law sources including telephone and trade directories, domain name registers, and Internet searches.

Register Search

A search of the Canadian Trade-marks Register which covers Canadian registered trademarks and pending applications. Marks which are in use in Canada but are not the subject of trademark applications/registrations will not be revealed in the search. A further search of company names, trading styles, telephone and trade directories is recommended in order to better assess the availability of the mark.

Preliminary Search

The objective of this type of search is to determine relatively quickly and inexpensively if the exact mark is on the Canadian Trade-marks Register database. The failure to locate a conflicting mark does not necessarily mean that the mark is available for registration or use. More exhaustive searches are required to clear the mark for registration and use.

Take Note
This document is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship. You should not act or rely on any information in this document without first seeking legal advice. This material is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any specific questions on any legal matter, you should consult a professional legal services provider.

Contributor

Smart & Biggar uncovers and maximizes intellectual property and technology assets for our clients. Today’s fast-paced innovation economy demands a higher level of expertise and attention to detail when it comes to IP strategy and protection. With over 125 lawyers, patent agents and trademark agents collaborating across five Canadian offices, Smart & Biggar is trusted by the world’s leading innovators to find value in their IP rights. As market leaders in IP, Smart & Biggar’s team is on the pulse when it comes to the latest developments and the wider industry changes that impact our clients. To stay informed, visit smartbiggar.ca/insights, including access to our RxIP Update (smartbiggar.ca/insights/rx-ip-updates), a monthly digest of the latest decisions and law surrounding the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries.

Mondaq uses cookies on this website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies as set out in our Privacy Policy.

Learn More