About 50,400 trademark applications were filed in Canada in 2013. Of these, about 20% were filed in-house or without an agent (about the same as in the last couple of years). Gowlings, Smart & Biggar and Bereskin & Parr were the firms that filed the most trademark applications. Check out my list of the 50 firms/agents that filed the most applications in 2013. Continue reading Canadian Trademark Firms in 2013
Tag Archives: Trademarks
Anti-Counterfeiting Returns
Yesterday, Bill C-8, Combating Counterfeit Products Act was introduced by the government. This is a re-introduction of Bill C-56 from the previous session and the Bill has been fast tracked to committee stage based on the status of Bill C-56 prior to prorogation.
Government introduces anti-counterfeiting legislation
Bill C-56, the Combating Counterfeit Products Act, was introduced today with amendments to the Copyright Act and Trade-marks Act, to among other things, allow the Canada Border Services Agency to detain suspected shipments and act on requests from rights holders. It will also “expand the scope of what can be registered as a trade-mark, allow the Registrar of Trade-marks to correct errors that appear in the trade-mark register, and streamline and modernize the trade-mark application and opposition process.”
Continue reading Government introduces anti-counterfeiting legislation
Canadian Trademark Firms for 2012
As mentioned earlier this month, about 50,000 trademark applications were filed in Canada in 2012. Of these, about 20% were filed in-house or without an agent (about the same as in 2011). Gowlings, Smart & Biggar and Bereskin & Parr were the firms that filed the most trademark applications. Check out my list of the 50 firms/agents that filed the most applications in 2012.
Top Trademark Filers for 2012
Just over 50,000 trademarks were filed in Canada last year. Procter & Gamble and L’Oreal tied with over 200 new trademark application filed in 2012 and Target Brands broke into the top five.
Proposed changes to Patent and Trade-mark Agent Examinations
Proposed regulations were published in the Canada Gazette relating to the patent agent and trade-mark agent examinations. The proposed changes include requiring lawyers to write the trademark agent exam to become agents and introducing more flexibility for running the patent agent exam.
Continue reading Proposed changes to Patent and Trade-mark Agent Examinations
Red Shoes
The US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit released its decision today in Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent reversing the lower court in part, concluding that a single colour can be a trademark in the fashion industry and “Louboutin’s trademark, consisting of a red, lacquered outsole on a high fashion woman’s shoe, has acquired limited ‘secondary meaning’ as a distinctive symbol that identifies the Louboutin brand.”
Registered Sound Mark
Last week, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office registered TMA828890, a sound trademark for MGM’s lion roar.
European Trademark Headings
The European Court of Justice has ruled on the use of class headings in European community trademarks in “IP Translator” – C-307/10 Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.
Trademark Infringement Application
The decision of Justice Near in BBM Canada v. Research In Motion Limited was released yesterday. The proceeding against RIM for trademark infringement and depreciation of BBM Canada’s registered marks was brought by way of application rather than by way of action. The Court dismissed the proceeding and awarded costs in favour of RIM. Continue reading Trademark Infringement Application