CANADIAN TRADEMARK LAWYER:
"Canadian Trademarks Act"
CHAPTER T-13
An Act relating to trade-marks and unfair competition
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SHORT TITLE
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1. This Act may be cited as the Trade-marks Act.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 1.
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INTERPRETATION
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2. In this Act,
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"certification mark" means a mark that is used for the purpose of distinguishing or so as to
distinguish wares or services that are of a defined standard with respect to
(a) the character or quality of the wares or services,
(b) the working conditions under which the wares have been produced or the services performed,
(c) the class of persons by whom the wares have been produced or the services performed, or
(d) the area within which the wares have been produced or the services performed,
from wares or services that are not of that defined standard;
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"confusing", when applied as an adjective to a trade-mark or trade-name, means a trade-mark or
trade-name the use of which would cause confusion in the manner and circumstances described
in section 6;
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"Convention" means the Convention of the Union of Paris made on March 20, 1883 and any
amendments and revisions thereof made before or after July 1, 1954 to which Canada is party;
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"country of origin" means
(a) the country of the Union in which the applicant for registration of a trade-mark had at the date
of the application a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment, or
(b) if the applicant for registration of a trade-mark did not at the date of the application have in a
country of the Union an establishment as described in paragraph (a), the country of the Union
where he on that date had his domicile, or
(c) if the applicant for registration of a trade-mark did not at the date of the application have in a
country of the Union an establishment as described in paragraph (a) or a domicile as described in
paragraph (b), the country of the Union of which he was on that date a citizen or national;
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"country of the Union" means
(a) any country that is a member of the Union for the Protection of Industrial Property
constituted under the Convention, or
(b) any WTO Member;
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"distinctive", in relation to a trade-mark, means a trade-mark that actually distinguishes the wares
or services in association with which it is used by its owner from the wares or services of others
or is adapted so to distinguish them;
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"distinguishing guise" means
(a) a shaping of wares or their containers, or
(b) a mode of wrapping or packaging wares
the appearance of which is used by a person for the purpose of distinguishing or so as to
distinguish wares or services manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by him from those
manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by others;
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"geographical indication" means, in respect of a wine or spirit, an indication that
(a) identifies the wine or spirit as originating in the territory of a WTO Member, or a region or
locality of that territory, where a quality, reputation or other characteristic of the wine or spirit is
essentially attributable to its geographical origin, and
(b) except in the case of an indication identifying a wine or spirit originating in Canada, is
protected by the laws applicable to that WTO Member;
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"owner", in relation to a certification mark, means the person by whom the defined standard has
been established;
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"package" includes any container or holder ordinarily associated with wares at the time of the
transfer of the property in or possession of the wares in the course of trade;
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"person" includes any lawful trade union and any lawful association engaged in trade or business
or the promotion thereof, and the administrative authority of any country, state, province,
municipality or other organized administrative area;
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"person interested" includes any person who is affected or reasonably apprehends that he may be
affected by any entry in the register, or by any act or omission or contemplated act or omission
under or contrary to this Act, and includes the Attorney General of Canada;
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"prescribed" means prescribed by or under the regulations;
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"proposed trade-mark" means a mark that is proposed to be used by a person for the purpose of
distinguishing or so as to distinguish wares or services manufactured, sold, leased, hired or
performed by him from those manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by others;
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"protected geographical indication" means a geographical indication that is on the list kept
pursuant to subsection 11.12(1);
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"register" means the register kept under section 26;
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"registered trade-mark" means a trade-mark that is on the register;
"registered user" [Repealed, 1993, c. 15, s. 57]
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"Registrar" means the Registrar of Trade-marks appointed under section 63;
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"related companies" means companies that are members of a group of two or more companies
one of which, directly or indirectly, owns or controls a majority of the issued voting stock of the
others;
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"representative for service" means the person or firm named under paragraph 30(g), subsection
38(3), paragraph 41(1)(a) or subsection 42(1);
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"trade-mark" means
(a) a mark that is used by a person for the purpose of distinguishing or so as to distinguish wares
or services manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by him from those manufactured, sold,
leased, hired or performed by others,
(b) a certification mark,
(c) a distinguishing guise, or
(d) a proposed trade-mark;
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"trade-name" means the name under which any business is carried on, whether or not it is the
name of a corporation, a partnership or an individual;
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"use", in relation to a trade-mark, means any use that by section 4 is deemed to be a use in
association with wares or services;
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"wares" includes printed publications;
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"WTO Agreement" has the meaning given to the word "Agreement" by subsection 2(1) of the
World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act;
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"WTO Member" means a Member of the World Trade Organization established by Article I of
the WTO Agreement.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 2; 1993, c. 15, s. 57; 1994, c. 47, s. 190.
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3. A trade-mark is deemed to have been adopted by a person when that person or his predecessor
in title commenced to use it in Canada or to make it known in Canada or, if that person or his
predecessor had not previously so used it or made it known, when that person or his predecessor
filed an application for its registration in Canada.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 3.
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4. (1) A trade-mark is deemed to be used in association with wares if, at the time of the transfer
of the property in or possession of the wares, in the normal course of trade, it is marked on the
wares themselves or on the packages in which they are distributed or it is in any other manner so
associated with the wares that notice of the association is then given to the person to whom the
property or possession is transferred.
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(2) A trade-mark is deemed to be used in association with services if it is used or displayed in the
performance or advertising of those services.
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(3) A trade-mark that is marked in Canada on wares or on the packages in which they are
contained is, when the wares are exported from Canada, deemed to be used in Canada in
association with those wares.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 4.
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5. A trade-mark is deemed to be made known in Canada by a person only if it is used by that
person in a country of the Union, other than Canada, in association with wares or services, and
(a) the wares are distributed in association with it in Canada, or
(b) the wares or services are advertised in association with it in
(i) any printed publication circulated in Canada in the ordinary course of commerce among
potential dealers in or users of the wares or services, or
(ii) radio broadcasts ordinarily received in Canada by potential dealers in or users of the wares or
services,
and it has become well known in Canada by reason of the distribution or advertising.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 5.
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6. (1) For the purposes of this Act, a trade-mark or trade-name is confusing with another
trade-mark or trade-name if the use of the first mentioned trade-mark or trade-name would cause
confusion with the last mentioned trade-mark or trade-name in the manner and circumstances
described in this section.
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(2) The use of a trade-mark causes confusion with another trade-mark if the use of both
trade-marks in the same area would be likely to lead to the inference that the wares or services
associated with those trade-marks are manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by the same
person, whether or not the wares or services are of the same general class.
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(3) The use of a trade-mark causes confusion with a trade-name if the use of both the trade-mark
and trade-name in the same area would be likely to lead to the inference that the wares or
services associated with the trade-mark and those associated with the business carried on under
the trade-name are manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by the same person, whether
or not the wares or services are of the same general class.
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(4) The use of a trade-name causes confusion with a trade-mark if the use of both the trade-name
and trade-mark in the same area would be likely to lead to the inference that the wares or services
associated with the business carried on under the trade-name and those associated with the
trade-mark are manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by the same person, whether or
not the wares or services are of the same general class.
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(5) In determining whether trade-marks or trade-names are confusing, the court or the Registrar,
as the case may be, shall have regard to all the surrounding circumstances including
(a) the inherent distinctiveness of the trade-marks or trade-names and the extent to which they
have become known;
(b) the length of time the trade-marks or trade-names have been in use;
(c) the nature of the wares, services or business;
(d) the nature of the trade; and
(e) the degree of resemblance between the trade-marks or trade-names in appearance or sound or
in the ideas suggested by them.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 6.
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UNFAIR COMPETITION AND PROHIBITED MARKS
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7. No person shall
(a) make a false or misleading statement tending to discredit the business, wares or services of a
competitor;
(b) direct public attention to his wares, services or business in such a way as to cause or be likely
to cause confusion in Canada, at the time he commenced so to direct attention to them, between
his wares, services or business and the wares, services or business of another;
(c) pass off other wares or services as and for those ordered or requested;
(d) make use, in association with wares or services, of any description that is false in a material
respect and likely to mislead the public as to
(i) the character, quality, quantity or composition,
(ii) the geographical origin, or
(iii) the mode of the manufacture, production or performance
of the wares or services; or
(e) do any other act or adopt any other business practice contrary to honest industrial or
commercial usage in Canada.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 7.
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8. Every person who in the course of trade transfers the property in or the possession of any
wares bearing, or in packages bearing, any trade-mark or trade-name shall, unless before the
transfer he otherwise expressly states in writing, be deemed to warrant, to the person to whom
the property or possession is transferred, that the trade-mark or trade-name has been and may be
lawfully used in connection with the wares.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 8.
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9. (1) No person shall adopt in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise, any
mark consisting of, or so nearly resembling as to be likely to be mistaken for,
(a) the Royal Arms, Crest or Standard;
(b) the arms or crest of any member of the Royal Family;
(c) the standard, arms or crest of His Excellency the Governor General;
(d) any word or symbol likely to lead to the belief that the wares or services in association with
which it is used have received, or are produced, sold or performed under, royal, vice-regal or
governmental patronage, approval or authority;
(e) the arms, crest or flag adopted and used at any time by Canada or by any province or
municipal corporation in Canada in respect of which the Registrar has, at the request of the
Government of Canada or of the province or municipal corporation concerned, given public
notice of its adoption and use;
(f) the emblem of the Red Cross on a white ground, formed by reversing the federal colours of
Switzerland and retained by the Geneva Convention for the Protection of War Victims of 1949
as the emblem and distinctive sign of the Medical Service of armed forces and used by the
Canadian Red Cross Society, or the expression "Red Cross" or "Geneva Cross";
(g) the emblem of the Red Crescent on a white ground adopted for the same purpose as specified
in paragraph (f) by a number of Moslem countries;
(h) the equivalent sign of the Red Lion and Sun used by Iran for the same purpose as specified in
paragraph (f);
(h.1) the international distinctive sign of civil defence (equilateral blue triangle on an orange
ground) referred to in Article 66, paragraph 4 of Schedule V to the Geneva Conventions Act;
(i) any territorial or civic flag or any national, territorial or civic arms, crest or emblem, of a
country of the Union, if the flag, arms, crest or emblem is on a list communicated under article
6ter of the Convention or pursuant to the obligations under the Agreement on Trade-related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights set out in Annex 1C to the WTO Agreement stemming
from that article, and the Registrar gives public notice of the communication;
(i.1) any official sign or hallmark indicating control or warranty adopted by a country of the
Union, if the sign or hallmark is on a list communicated under article 6ter of the Convention or
pursuant to the obligations under the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights set out in Annex 1C to the WTO Agreement stemming from that article, and the
Registrar gives public notice of the communication;
(i.2) any national flag of a country of the Union;
(i.3) any armorial bearing, flag or other emblem, or any abbreviation of the name, of an
international intergovernmental organization, if the armorial bearing, flag, emblem or
abbreviation is on a list communicated under article 6ter of the Convention or pursuant to the
obligations under the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights set out
in Annex 1C to the WTO Agreement stemming from that article, and the Registrar gives public
notice of the communication;
(j) any scandalous, obscene or immoral word or device;
(k) any matter that may falsely suggest a connection with any living individual;
(l) the portrait or signature of any individual who is living or has died within the preceding thirty
years;
(m) the words "United Nations" or the official seal or emblem of the United Nations;
(n) any badge, crest, emblem or mark
(i) adopted or used by any of Her Majesty's Forces as defined in the National Defence Act,
(ii) of any university, or
(iii) adopted and used by any public authority, in Canada as an official mark for wares or
services,
in respect of which the Registrar has, at the request of Her Majesty or of the university or public
authority, as the case may be, given public notice of its adoption and use;
(n.1) any armorial bearings granted, recorded or approved for use by a recipient pursuant to the
prerogative powers of Her Majesty as exercised by the Governor General in respect of the
granting of armorial bearings, if the Registrar has, at the request of the Governor General, given
public notice of the grant, recording or approval; or
(o) the name "Royal Canadian Mounted Police" or "R.C.M.P." or any other combination of
letters relating to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or any pictorial representation of a
uniformed member thereof.
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(2) Nothing in this section prevents the adoption, use or registration as a trade-mark or otherwise,
in connection with a business, of any mark
(a) described in subsection (1) with the consent of Her Majesty or such other person, society,
authority or organization as may be considered to have been intended to be protected by this
section; or
(b) consisting of, or so nearly resembling as to be likely to be mistaken for
(i) an official sign or hallmark mentioned in paragraph (1)(i.1), except in respect of wares that are
the same or similar to the wares in respect of which the official sign or hallmark has been
adopted, or
(ii) an armorial bearing, flag, emblem or abbreviation mentioned in paragraph (1)(i.3), unless the
use of the mark is likely to mislead the public as to a connection between the user and the
organization.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 9; 1990, c. 14, s. 8; 1993, c. 15, s. 58; 1994, c. 47, s. 191; 1999, c. 31, s.
209(F).
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10. Where any mark has by ordinary and bona fide commercial usage become recognized in
Canada as designating the kind, quality, quantity, destination, value, place of origin or date of
production of any wares or services, no person shall adopt it as a trade-mark in association with
such wares or services or others of the same general class or use it in a way likely to mislead, nor
shall any person so adopt or so use any mark so nearly resembling that mark as to be likely to be
mistaken therefor.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 10.
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10.1 Where a denomination must, under the Plant Breeders' Rights Act, be used to designate a
plant variety, no person shall adopt it as a trade-mark in association with the plant variety or
another plant variety of the same species or use it in a way likely to mislead, nor shall any person
so adopt or so use any mark so nearly resembling that denomination as to be likely to be
mistaken therefor.
1990, c. 20, s. 79.
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11. No person shall use in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise, any mark
adopted contrary to section 9 or 10 of this Act or section 13 or 14 of the Unfair Competition Act,
chapter 274 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1952.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 11.
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11.1 No person shall use in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise, any
denomination adopted contrary to section 10.1.
1990, c. 20, s. 80.
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11.11 In sections 11.12 to 11.2,
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"Minister" means the member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada designated as the
Minister for the purposes of sections 11.12 to 11.2;
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"responsible authority" means, in relation to a wine or spirit, the person, firm or other entity that,
in the opinion of the Minister, is, by reason of state or commercial interest, sufficiently connected
with and knowledgeable of that wine or spirit to be a party to any proceedings in respect of an
objection filed under subsection 11.13(1).
1994, c. 47, s. 192.
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11.12 (1) There shall be kept under the supervision of the Registrar a list of geographical
indications.
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(2) Where a statement by the Minister, setting out in respect of an indication the information
mentioned in subsection (3), is published in the Canada Gazette and
(a) a statement of objection has not been filed and served on the responsible authority in
accordance with subsection 11.13(1) and the time for the filing of the statement of objection has
expired, or
(b) a statement of objection has been so filed and served, but it has been withdrawn or deemed
under subsection 11.13(6) to have been withdrawn or it has been rejected pursuant to subsection
11.13(7) or, if an appeal is taken, it is rejected pursuant to the final judgment given in the appeal,
the Registrar shall enter the indication on the list of geographical indications kept pursuant to
subsection (1).
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(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the statement by the Minister must set out the following
information in respect of an indication:
(a) that the Minister proposes that the indication be entered on the list of geographical
indications kept pursuant to subsection (1);
(b) that the indication identifies a wine or that the indication identifies a spirit;
(c) the territory, or the region or locality of a territory, in which the wine or spirit is identified as
originating;
(d) the name of the responsible authority in relation to the wine or spirit and the address of the
responsible authority's principal office or place of business in Canada, if any, and if the
responsible authority has no office or place of business in Canada, the name and address in
Canada of a person or firm on whom service of any document or proceedings in respect of an
objection may be given or served with the same effect as if they had been given to or served on
the responsible authority itself; and
(e) the quality, reputation or other characteristic of the wine or spirit that, in the opinion of the
Minister, qualifies that indication as a geographical indication.
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(4) The Registrar shall remove an indication from the list of geographical indications kept
pursuant to subsection (1) on the publication in the Canada Gazette of a statement by the
Minister that the indication is to be removed.
1994, c. 47, s. 192.
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11.13 (1) Within three months after the publication in the Canada Gazette of a statement referred
to in subsection 11.12(2), any person interested may, on payment of the prescribed fee, file with
the Registrar, and serve on the responsible authority in the prescribed manner, a statement of
objection.
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(2) A statement of objection may be based only on the ground that the indication is not a
geographical indication.
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(3) A statement of objection shall set out
(a) the ground of objection in sufficient detail to enable the responsible authority to reply thereto;
and
(b) the address of the objector's principal office or place of business in Canada, if any, and if the
objector has no office or place of business in Canada, the address of the principal office or place
of business abroad and the name and address in Canada of a person or firm on whom service of
any document in respect of the objection may be made with the same effect as if it had been
served on the objector.
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(4) Within three months after a statement of objection has been served on the responsible
authority, the responsible authority may file a counter statement with the Registrar and serve a
copy on the objector in the prescribed manner, and if the responsible authority does not so file
and serve a counter statement, the indication shall not be entered on the list of geographical
indications.
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(5) Both the objector and the responsible authority shall be given an opportunity, in the manner
prescribed, to submit evidence and to make representations to the Registrar unless
(a) the responsible authority does not file and serve a counter statement in accordance with
subsection (4) or if, in the prescribed circumstances, the responsible authority does not submit
evidence or a statement that the responsible authority does not wish to submit evidence; or
(b) the objection is withdrawn or deemed under subsection (6) to have been withdrawn.
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(6) The objection shall be deemed to have been withdrawn if, in the prescribed circumstances,
the objector does not submit evidence or a statement that the objector does not wish to submit
evidence.
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(7) After considering the evidence and representations of the objector and the responsible
authority, the Registrar shall decide that the indication is not a geographical indication or reject
the objection, and notify the parties of the decision and the reasons for the decision.
1994, c. 47, s. 192.
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11.14 (1) No person shall adopt in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise,
(a) a protected geographical indication identifying a wine in respect of a wine not originating in
the territory indicated by the protected geographical indication; or
(b) a translation in any language of the geographical indication in respect of that wine.
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(2) No person shall use in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise,
(a) a protected geographical indication identifying a wine in respect of a wine not originating in
the territory indicated by the protected geographical indication or adopted contrary to subsection
(1); or
(b) a translation in any language of the geographical indication in respect of that wine.
1994, c. 47, s. 192.
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11.15 (1) No person shall adopt in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise,
(a) a protected geographical indication identifying a spirit in respect of a spirit not originating in
the territory indicated by the protected geographical indication; or
(b) a translation in any language of the geographical indication in respect of that spirit.
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(2) No person shall use in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise,
(a) a protected geographical indication identifying a spirit in respect of a spirit not originating in
the territory indicated by the protected geographical indication or adopted contrary to subsection
(1); or
(b) a translation in any language of the geographical indication in respect of that spirit.
1994, c. 47, s. 192.
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11.16 (1) Sections 11.14 and 11.15 do not prevent a person from using, in the course of trade,
that person's name or the name of the person's predecessor-in-title, except where the name is
used in such a manner as to mislead the public.
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(2) Subject to subsection (3), sections 11.14 and 11.15 do not prevent a person from using a
protected geographical indication in comparative advertising in respect of a wine or spirit.
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(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to comparative advertising on labels or packaging associated
with a wine or spirit.
1994, c. 47, s. 192.
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11.17 (1) Where a Canadian has used a protected geographical indication in a continuous manner
in relation to any business or commercial activity in respect of goods or services
(a) in good faith before April 15, 1994, or
(b) for at least ten years before that date,
section 11.14 or 11.15, as the case may be, does not apply to any continued or similar use by that
Canadian.
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(2) For the purposes of this section, "Canadian" includes
(a) a Canadian citizen;
(b) a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee
Protection Act who has been ordinarily resident in Canada for not more than one year after the
time at which the permanent resident first became eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship; and
(c) an entity that carries on business in Canada.
1994, c. 47, s. 192; 2001, c. 27, s. 271.
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11.18 (1) Notwithstanding sections 11.14 and 11.15 and paragraphs 12(1)(g) and (h), nothing in
any of those provisions prevents the adoption, use or registration as a trade-mark or otherwise, in
connection with a business, of a protected geographical indication identifying a wine or spirit if
the indication has ceased to be protected by the laws applicable to the WTO Member for which
the indication is protected, or has fallen into disuse in that Member.
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(2) Notwithstanding sections 11.14 and 11.15 and paragraphs 12(1)(g) and (h), nothing in any of
those provisions prevents the adoption, use or registration as a trade-mark or otherwise, in
connection with a business, of an indication in respect of a wine or spirit
(a) that is identical with a term customary in common language in Canada as the common name
for the wine or spirit, as the case may be; or
(b) that is identical with a customary name of a grape variety existing in Canada on or before the
day on which the Agreement comes into force.
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(3) Notwithstanding sections 11.14 and 11.15 and paragraphs 12(1)(g) and (h), nothing in any of
those provisions prevents the adoption, use or registration as a trade-mark or otherwise, in
connection with a business, of the following indications in respect of wines:
(a) Champagne;
(b) Port;
(c) Porto;
(d) Sherry;
(e) Chablis;
(f) Burgundy;
(g) Bourgogne;
(h) Rhine;
(i) Rhin;
(j) Sauterne; and
(k) Sauternes.
(l) to (v) [Repealed, SOR/2004-85]
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(4) Notwithstanding sections 11.14 and 11.15 and paragraphs 12(1)(g) and (h), nothing in any of
those provisions prevents the adoption, use or registration as a trade-mark or otherwise, in
connection with a business, of the following indications in respect of spirits:
(a) [Repealed, SOR/2004-85]
(b) Marc;
(c) [Repealed, SOR/2004-85]
(d) Sambuca;
(e) Geneva Gin;
(f) GeniÈvre;
(g) Hollands Gin;
(h) London Gin;
(i) Schnapps;
(j) Malt Whiskey;
(k) Eau-de-vie;
(l) Bitters;
(m) Anisette;
(n) Curacao; and
(o) CuraÇao.
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(5) The Governor in Council may, by order, amend subsection (3) or (4) by adding thereto or
deleting therefrom an indication in respect of a wine or spirit, as the case may be.
1994, c. 47, s. 192; SOR/2004-85.
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11.19 (1) Sections 11.14 and 11.15 do not apply to the adoption or use of a trade-mark by a
person if no proceedings are taken to enforce those sections in respect of that person's use or
adoption of the trade-mark within five years after use of the trade-mark by that person or that
person's predecessor-in-title has become generally known in Canada or the trade-mark has been
registered by that person in Canada, unless it is established that that person or that person's
predecessor-in-title first used or adopted the trade-mark with knowledge that such use or
adoption was contrary to section 11.14 or 11.15, as the case may be.
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(2) In proceedings respecting a registered trade-mark commenced after the expiration of five
years from the earlier of the date of registration of the trade-mark in Canada and the date on
which use of the trade-mark by the person who filed the application for registration of the
trade-mark or that person's predecessor-in-title has become generally known in Canada, the
registration shall not be expunged or amended or held invalid on the basis of paragraph 12(1)(g)
or (h) unless it is established that the person who filed the application for registration of the
trade-mark did so with knowledge that the trade-mark was in whole or in part a protected
geographical indication.
1994, c. 47, s. 192.
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11.2 Notwithstanding sections 11.14 and 11.15 and paragraphs 12(1)(g) and (h), where a person
has in good faith
(a) filed an application in accordance with section 30 for, or secured the registration of, a
trade-mark that is identical with or similar to the geographical indication in respect of a wine or
spirit protected by the laws applicable to a WTO Member, or
(b) acquired rights to a trade-mark in respect of such a wine or spirit through use,
before the later of the date on which this section comes into force and the date on which
protection in respect of the wine or spirit by the laws applicable to that Member commences,
nothing in any of those provisions prevents the adoption, use or registration of that trade-mark by
that person.
1994, c. 47, s. 192.
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REGISTRABLE TRADE-MARKS
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12. (1) Subject to section 13, a trade-mark is registrable if it is not
(a) a word that is primarily merely the name or the surname of an individual who is living or has
died within the preceding thirty years;
(b) whether depicted, written or sounded, either clearly descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive
in the English or French language of the character or quality of the wares or services in
association with which it is used or proposed to be used or of the conditions of or the persons
employed in their production or of their place of origin;
(c) the name in any language of any of the wares or services in connection with which it is used
or proposed to be used;
(d) confusing with a registered trade-mark;
(e) a mark of which the adoption is prohibited by section 9 or 10;
(f) a denomination the adoption of which is prohibited by section 10.1;
(g) in whole or in part a protected geographical indication, where the trade-mark is to be
registered in association with a wine not originating in a territory indicated by the geographical
indication; and
(h) in whole or in part a protected geographical indication, where the trade-mark is to be
registered in association with a spirit not originating in a territory indicated by the geographical
indication.
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(2) A trade-mark that is not registrable by reason of paragraph (1)(a) or (b) is registrable if it has
been so used in Canada by the applicant or his predecessor in title as to have become distinctive
at the date of filing an application for its registration.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 12; 1990, c. 20, s. 81; 1993, c. 15, s. 59(F); 1994, c. 47, s. 193.
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13. (1) A distinguishing guise is registrable only if
(a) it has been so used in Canada by the applicant or his predecessor in title as to have become
distinctive at the date of filing an application for its registration; and
(b) the exclusive use by the applicant of the distinguishing guise in association with the wares or
services with which it has been used is not likely unreasonably to limit the development of any
art or industry.
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(2) No registration of a distinguishing guise interferes with the use of any utilitarian feature
embodied in the distinguishing guise.
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(3) The registration of a distinguishing guise may be expunged by the Federal Court on the
application of any interested person if the Court decides that the registration has become likely
unreasonably to limit the development of any art or industry.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 13; R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64.
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14. (1) Notwithstanding section 12, a trade-mark that the applicant or the applicant's predecessor
in title has caused to be duly registered in or for the country of origin of the applicant is
registrable if, in Canada,
(a) it is not confusing with a registered trade-mark;
(b) it is not without distinctive character, having regard to all the circumstances of the case
including the length of time during which it has been used in any country;
(c) it is not contrary to morality or public order or of such a nature as to deceive the public; or
(d) it is not a trade-mark of which the adoption is prohibited by section 9 or 10.
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(2) A trade-mark that differs from the trade-mark registered in the country of origin only by
elements that do not alter its distinctive character or affect its identity in the form under which it
is registered in the country of origin shall be regarded for the purpose of subsection (1) as the
trade-mark so registered.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 14; 1994, c. 47, s. 194.
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15. (1) Notwithstanding section 12 or 14, confusing trade-marks are registrable if the applicant is
the owner of all such trade-marks, which shall be known as associated trade-marks.
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(2) On the registration of any trade-mark associated with any other registered trade-mark, a note
of the registration of each trade-mark shall be made on the record of registration of the other
trade-mark.
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(3) No amendment of the register recording any change in the ownership or in the name or
address of the owner of any one of a group of associated trade-marks shall be made unless the
Registrar is satisfied that the same change has occurred with respect to all the trade-marks in the
group, and corresponding entries are made contemporaneously with respect to all those
trade-marks.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 15.
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PERSONS ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION OF TRADE-MARKS
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16. (1) Any applicant who has filed an application in accordance with section 30 for registration
of a trade-mark that is registrable and that he or his predecessor in title has used in Canada or
made known in Canada in association with wares or services is entitled, subject to section 38, to
secure its registration in respect of those wares or services, unless at the date on which he or his
predecessor in title first so used it or made it known it was confusing with
(a) a trade-mark that had been previously used in Canada or made known in Canada by any other
person;
(b) a trade-mark in respect of which an application for registration had been previously filed in
Canada by any other person; or
(c) a trade-name that had been previously used in Canada by any other person.
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(2) Any applicant who has filed an application in accordance with section 30 for registration of a
trade-mark that is registrable and that the applicant or the applicant's predecessor in title has duly
registered in or for the country of origin of the applicant and has used in association with wares
or services is entitled, subject to section 38, to secure its registration in respect of the wares or
services in association with which it is registered in that country and has been used, unless at the
date of filing of the application in accordance with section 30 it was confusing with
(a) a trade-mark that had been previously used in Canada or made known in Canada by any other
person;
(b) a trade-mark in respect of which an application for registration had been previously filed in
Canada by any other person; or
(c) a trade-name that had been previously used in Canada by any other person.
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(3) Any applicant who has filed an application in accordance with section 30 for registration of a
proposed trade-mark that is registrable is entitled, subject to sections 38 and 40, to secure its
registration in respect of the wares or services specified in the application, unless at the date of
filing of the application it was confusing with
(a) a trade-mark that had been previously used in Canada or made known in Canada by any other
person;
(b) a trade-mark in respect of which an application for registration had been previously filed in
Canada by any other person; or
(c) a trade-name that had been previously used in Canada by any other person.
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(4) The right of an applicant to secure registration of a registrable trade-mark is not affected by
the previous filing of an application for registration of a confusing trade-mark by another person,
unless the application for registration of the confusing trade-mark was pending at the date of
advertisement of the applicant's application in accordance with section 37.
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(5) The right of an applicant to secure registration of a registrable trade-mark is not affected by
the previous use or making known of a confusing trade-mark or trade-name by another person, if
the confusing trade-mark or trade-name was abandoned at the date of advertisement of the
applicant's application in accordance with section 37.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 16; 1994, c. 47, s. 195.
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VALIDITY AND EFFECT OF REGISTRATION
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17. (1) No application for registration of a trade-mark that has been advertised in accordance
with section 37 shall be refused and no registration of a trade-mark shall be expunged or
amended or held invalid on the ground of any previous use or making known of a confusing
trade-mark or trade-name by a person other than the applicant for that registration or his
predecessor in title, except at the instance of that other person or his successor in title, and the
burden lies on that other person or his successor to establish that he had not abandoned the
confusing trade-mark or trade-name at the date of advertisement of the applicant's application.
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(2) In proceedings commenced after the expiration of five years from the date of registration of a
trade-mark or from July 1, 1954, whichever is the later, no registration shall be expunged or
amended or held invalid on the ground of the previous use or making known referred to in
subsection (1), unless it is established that the person who adopted the registered trade-mark in
Canada did so with knowledge of that previous use or making known.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 17.
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18. (1) The registration of a trade-mark is invalid if
(a) the trade-mark was not registrable at the date of registration,
(b) the trade-mark is not distinctive at the time proceedings bringing the validity of the
registration into question are commenced, or
(c) the trade-mark has been abandoned,
and subject to section 17, it is invalid if the applicant for registration was not the person entitled
to secure the registration.
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(2) No registration of a trade-mark that had been so used in Canada by the registrant or his
predecessor in title as to have become distinctive at the date of registration shall be held invalid
merely on the ground that evidence of the distinctiveness was not submitted to the competent
authority or tribunal before the grant of the registration.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 18.
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19. Subject to sections 21, 32 and 67, the registration of a trade-mark in respect of any wares or
services, unless shown to be invalid, gives to the owner of the trade-mark the exclusive right to
the use throughout Canada of the trade-mark in respect of those wares or services.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 19; 1993, c. 15, s. 60.
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20. (1) The right of the owner of a registered trade-mark to its exclusive use shall be deemed to
be infringed by a person not entitled to its use under this Act who sells, distributes or advertises
wares or services in association with a confusing trade-mark or trade-name, but no registration of
a trade-mark prevents a person from making
(a) any bona fide use of his personal name as a trade-name, or
(b) any bona fide use, other than as a trade-mark,
(i) of the geographical name of his place of business, or
(ii) of any accurate description of the character or quality of his wares or services,
in such a manner as is not likely to have the effect of depreciating the value of the goodwill
attaching to the trade-mark.
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(2) No registration of a trade-mark prevents a person from making any use of any of the
indications mentioned in subsection 11.18(3) in association with a wine or any of the indications
mentioned in subsection 11.18(4) in association with a spirit.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 20; 1994, c. 47, s. 196.
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21. (1) Where, in any proceedings respecting a registered trade-mark the registration of which is
entitled to the protection of subsection 17(2), it is made to appear to the Federal Court that one of
the parties to the proceedings, other than the registered owner of the trade-mark, had in good
faith used a confusing trade-mark or trade-name in Canada before the date of filing of the
application for that registration, and the Court considers that it is not contrary to the public
interest that the continued use of the confusing trade-mark or trade-name should be permitted in
a defined territorial area concurrently with the use of the registered trade-mark, the Court may,
subject to such terms as it deems just, order that the other party may continue to use the
confusing trade-mark or trade-name within that area with an adequate specified distinction from
the registered trade-mark.
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(2) The rights conferred by an order made under subsection (1) take effect only if, within three
months from its date, the other party makes application to the Registrar to enter it on the register
in connection with the registration of the registered trade-mark.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 21; R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64.
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22. (1) No person shall use a trade-mark registered by another person in a manner that is likely to
have the effect of depreciating the value of the goodwill attaching thereto.
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(2) In any action in respect of a use of a trade-mark contrary to subsection (1), the court may
decline to order the recovery of damages or profits and may permit the defendant to continue to
sell wares marked with the trade-mark that were in his possession or under his control at the time
notice was given to him that the owner of the registered trade-mark complained of the use of the
trade-mark.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 22.
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CERTIFICATION MARKS
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23. (1) A certification mark may be adopted and registered only by a person who is not engaged
in the manufacture, sale, leasing or hiring of wares or the performance of services such as those
in association with which the certification mark is used.
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(2) The owner of a certification mark may license others to use the mark in association with
wares or services that meet the defined standard, and the use of the mark accordingly shall be
deemed to be use thereof by the owner.
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(3) The owner of a registered certification mark may prevent its use by unlicensed persons or in
association with any wares or services in respect of which the mark is registered but to which the
licence does not extend.
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(4) Where the owner of a registered certification mark is an unincorporated body, any action or
proceeding to prevent unauthorized use of the mark may be brought by any member of that body
on behalf of himself and all other members thereof.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 23.
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24. With the consent of the owner of a certification mark, a trade-mark confusing with the
certification mark may, if it exhibits an appropriate difference, be registered by some other
person to indicate that the wares or services in association with which it is used have been
manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by him as one of the persons entitled to use the
certification mark, but the registration thereof shall be expunged by the Registrar on the
withdrawal at any time of the consent of the owner of the certification mark or on the
cancellation of the registration of the certification mark.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 24.
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25. A certification mark descriptive of the place of origin of wares or services, and not confusing
with any registered trade-mark, is registrable if the applicant is the administrative authority of a
country, state, province or municipality including or forming part of the area indicated by the
mark, or is a commercial association having an office or representative in that area, but the
owner of any mark registered under this section shall permit the use of the mark in association
with any wares or services produced or performed in the area of which the mark is descriptive.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 25.
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REGISTER OF TRADE-MARKS
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26. (1) There shall be kept under the supervision of the Registrar
(a) a register of trade-marks and of transfers, disclaimers, amendments, judgments and orders
relating to each registered trade-mark; and
(b) the register of registered users that was required to be kept under this subsection as it read
immediately before section 61 of the Intellectual Property Law Improvement Act came into
force.
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(2) The register referred to in paragraph (1)(a) shall show, with reference to each registered
trade-mark, the following:
(a) the date of registration;
(b) a summary of the application for registration;
(c) a summary of all documents deposited with the application or subsequently thereto and
affecting the rights to the trade-mark;
(d) particulars of each renewal;
(e) particulars of each change of name and address; and
(f) such other particulars as this Act or the regulations require to be entered thereon.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 26; 1993, c. 15, s. 61.
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27. (1) The register kept under the Unfair Competition Act, chapter 274 of the Revised Statutes
of Canada, 1952, forms part of the register kept under this Act and, subject to subsection 44(2),
no entry made therein, if properly made according to the law in force at the time it was made, is
subject to be expunged or amended only because it might not properly have been made pursuant
to this Act.
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(2) Trade-marks on the register on September 1, 1932 shall be treated as design marks or word
marks as defined in the Unfair Competition Act, chapter 274 of the Revised Statutes of Canada,
1952, according to the following rules:
(a) any trade-mark consisting only of words or numerals or both without any indication of a
special form or appearance shall be deemed to be a word mark;
(b) any other trade-mark consisting only of words or numerals or both shall be deemed to be a
word mark if at the date of its registration the words or numerals or both would have been
registrable independently of any defined special form or appearance and shall also be deemed to
be a design mark for reading matter presenting the special form or appearance defined;
(c) any trade-mark including words or numerals or both in combination with other features shall
be deemed
(i) to be a design mark having the features described in the application therefor but without any
meaning being attributed to the words or numerals, and
(ii) to be a word mark if and so far as it would at the date of registration have been registrable
independently of any defined form or appearance and without being combined with any other
feature; and
(d) any other trade-mark shall be deemed to be a design mark having the features described in the
application therefor.
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(3) Trade-marks registered under the Unfair Competition Act, chapter 274 of the Revised
Statutes of Canada, 1952, shall, in accordance with their registration, continue to be treated as
design marks or word marks as defined in that Act.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 26.
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28. (1) There shall be kept under the supervision of the Registrar
(a) an index of registered trade-marks;
(b) an index of trade-marks in respect of which applications for registration are pending;
(c) an index of applications that have been abandoned or refused;
(d) an index of the names of owners of registered trade-marks;
(e) an index of the names of applicants for the registration of trade-marks;
(f) a list of trade-mark agents; and
(g) the index of the names of registered users that was required to be kept under this subsection
as it reads immediately before section 61 of the Intellectual Property Law Improvement Act
comes into force.
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(2) The list of trade-mark agents shall include the names of all persons and firms entitled to
represent applicants in the presentation and prosecution of applications for the registration of a
trade-mark or in other business before the Trade-marks Office.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 28; 1993, c. 15, s. 62.
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29. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the registers, the documents on which the entries therein are
based, all applications, including those abandoned, the indexes, the list of trade-mark agents and
the list of geographical indications kept pursuant to subsection 11.12(1) shall be open to public
inspection during business hours, and the Registrar shall, on request and on payment of the
prescribed fee, furnish a copy certified by the registrar of any entry in the registers, indexes or
lists, or of any of those documents or applications.
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(2) The disclosure of documents on which entries in the register required to be kept under
paragraph 26(1)(b) are based is subject to the provisions of subsection 50(6), as it reads
immediately before section 61 of the Intellectual Property Law Improvement Act comes into
force.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 29; 1993, c. 15, s. 63; 1994, c. 47, s. 197.
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APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE-MARKS
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30. An applicant for the registration of a trade-mark shall file with the Registrar an application
containing
(a) a statement in ordinary commercial terms of the specific wares or services in association with
which the mark has been or is proposed to be used;
(b) in the case of a trade-mark that has been used in Canada, the date from which the applicant or
his named predecessors in title, if any, have so used the trade-mark in association with each of
the general classes of wares or services described in the application;
(c) in the case of a trade-mark that has not been used in Canada but is made known in Canada,
the name of a country of the Union in which it has been used by the applicant or his named
predecessors in title, if any, and the date from and the manner in which the applicant or named
predecessors in title have made it known in Canada in association with each of the general
classes of wares or services described in the application;
(d) in the case of a trade-mark that is the subject in or for another country of the Union of a
registration or an application for registration by the applicant or the applicant's named
predecessor in title on which the applicant bases the applicant's right to registration, particulars
of the application or registration and, if the trade-mark has neither been used in Canada nor made
known in Canada, the name of a country in which the trade-mark has been used by the applicant
or the applicant's named predecessor in title, if any, in association with each of the general
classes of wares or services described in the application;
(e) in the case of a proposed trade-mark, a statement that the applicant, by itself or through a
licensee, or by itself and through a licensee, intends to use the trade-mark in Canada;
(f) in the case of a certification mark, particulars of the defined standard that the use of the mark
is intended to indicate and a statement that the applicant is not engaged in the manufacture, sale,
leasing or hiring of wares or the performance of services such as those in association with which
the certification mark is used;
(g) the address of the applicant's principal office or place of business in Canada, if any, and if the
applicant has no office or place of business in Canada, the address of his principal office or place
of business abroad and the name and address in Canada of a person or firm to whom any notice
in respect of the application or registration may be sent, and on whom service of any proceedings
in respect of the application or registration may be given or served with the same effect as if they
had been given to or served on the applicant or registrant himself;
(h) unless the application is for the registration only of a word or words not depicted in a special
form, a drawing of the trade-mark and such number of accurate representations of the trade-mark
as may be prescribed; and
(i) a statement that the applicant is satisfied that he is entitled to use the trade-mark in Canada in
association with the wares or services described in the application.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 30; 1993, c. 15, s. 64; 1994, c. 47, s. 198.
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31. (1) An applicant whose right to registration of a trade-mark is based on a registration of the
trade-mark in another country of the Union shall, before the date of advertisement of his
application in accordance with section 37, furnish a copy of the registration certified by the office
in which it was made, together with a translation thereof into English or French if it is in any
other language, and such other evidence as the Registrar may require to establish fully his right to
registration under this Act.
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(2) An applicant whose trade-mark has been duly registered in his country of origin and who
claims that the trade-mark is registrable under paragraph 14(1)(b) shall furnish such evidence as
the Registrar may require by way of affidavit or statutory declaration establishing the
circumstances on which he relies, including the length of time during which the trade-mark has
been used in any country.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 30.
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32. (1) An applicant who claims that his trade-mark is registrable under subsection 12(2) or
section 13 shall furnish the Registrar with evidence by way of affidavit or statutory declaration
establishing the extent to which and the time during which the trade-mark has been used in
Canada and with any other evidence that the Registrar may require in support of the claim.
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(2) The Registrar shall, having regard to the evidence adduced, restrict the registration to the
wares or services in association with which the trade-mark is shown to have been so used as to
have become distinctive and to the defined territorial area in Canada in which the trade-mark is
shown to have become distinctive.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 31.
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33. Every trade union or commercial association that applies for the registration of a trade-mark
may be required to furnish satisfactory evidence that its existence is not contrary to the laws of
the country in which its headquarters are situated.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 32.
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34. (1) When an application for the registration of a trade-mark has been made in or for any
country of the Union other than Canada and an application is subsequently made in Canada for
the registration for use in association with the same kind of wares or services of the same or
substantially the same trade-mark by the same applicant or the applicant's successor in title, the
date of filing of the application in or for the other country is deemed to be the date of filing of the
application in Canada, and the applicant is entitled to priority in Canada accordingly
notwithstanding any intervening use in Canada or making known in Canada or any intervening
application or registration if
(a) the application in Canada, including or accompanied by a declaration setting out the date on
which and the country of the Union in or for which the earliest application was filed for the
registration of the same or substantially the same trade-mark for use in association with the same
kind of wares or services, is filed within a period of six months after that date, which period shall
not be extended;
(b) the applicant or, if the applicant is a transferee, the applicant's predecessor in title by whom
any earlier application was filed in or for any country of the Union was at the date of the
application a citizen or national of or domiciled in that country or had therein a real and effective
industrial or commercial establishment; and
(c) the applicant furnishes, in accordance with any request under subsections (2) and (3),
evidence necessary to establish fully the applicant's right to priority.
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(2) The Registrar may request the evidence before the day on which the application is allowed
pursuant to section 39.
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(3) The Registrar may specify in the request the manner in which the evidence must be furnished
and the period within which it must be furnished.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 34; 1992, c. 1, s. 133; 1993, c. 15, s. 65; 1994, c. 47, s. 199.
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35. The Registrar may require an applicant for registration of a trade-mark to disclaim the right
to the exclusive use apart from the trade-mark of such portion of the trade-mark as is not
independently registrable, but the disclaimer does not prejudice or affect the applicant's rights
then existing or thereafter arising in the disclaimed matter, nor does the disclaimer prejudice or
affect the applicant's right to registration on a subsequent application if the disclaimed matter has
then become distinctive of the applicant's wares or services.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 34.
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36. Where, in the opinion of the Registrar, an applicant is in default in the prosecution of an
application filed under this Act or any Act relating to trade-marks in force prior to July 1, 1954,
the Registrar may, after giving notice to the applicant of the default, treat the application as
abandoned unless the default is remedied within the time specified in the notice.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 35.
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37. (1) The Registrar shall refuse an application for the registration of a trade-mark if he is
satisfied that
(a) the application does not conform to the requirements of section 30,
(b) the trade-mark is not registrable, or
(c) the applicant is not the person entitled to registration of the trade-mark because it is confusing
with another trade-mark for the registration of which an application is pending,
and where the Registrar is not so satisfied, he shall cause the application to be advertised in the
manner prescribed.
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(2) The Registrar shall not refuse any application without first notifying the applicant of his
objections thereto and his reasons for those objections, and giving the applicant adequate
opportunity to answer those objections.
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(3) Where the Registrar, by reason of a registered trade-mark, is in doubt whether the trade-mark
claimed in the application is registrable, he shall, by registered letter, notify the owner of the
registered trade-mark of the advertisement of the application.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 36.
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38. (1) Within two months after the advertisement of an application for the registration of a
trade-mark, any person may, on payment of the prescribed fee, file a statement of opposition with
the Registrar.
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(2) A statement of opposition may be based on any of the following grounds:
(a) that the application does not conform to the requirements of section 30;
(b) that the trade-mark is not registrable;
(c) that the applicant is not the person entitled to registration of the trade-mark; or
(d) that the trade-mark is not distinctive.
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(3) A statement of opposition shall set out
(a) the grounds of opposition in sufficient detail to enable the applicant to reply thereto; and
(b) the address of the opponent's principal office or place of business in Canada, if any, and if the
opponent has no office or place of business in Canada, the address of his principal office or place
of business abroad and the name and address in Canada of a person or firm on whom service of
any document in respect of the opposition may be made with the same effect as if it had been
served on the opponent himself.
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(4) If the Registrar considers that the opposition does not raise a substantial issue for decision, he
shall reject it and shall give notice of his decision to the opponent.
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(5) If the Registrar considers that the opposition raises a substantial issue for decision, he shall
forward a copy of the statement of opposition to the applicant.
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(6) The applicant shall file a counter statement with the Registrar and serve a copy on the
opponent in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed time after a copy of the statement of
opposition has been served on the applicant.
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(7) Both the opponent and the applicant shall be given an opportunity, in the prescribed manner,
to submit evidence and to make representations to the Registrar unless
(a) the opposition is withdrawn or deemed under subsection (7.1) to have been withdrawn; or
(b) the application is abandoned or deemed under subsection (7.2) to have been abandoned.
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(7.1) The opposition shall be deemed to have been withdrawn if, in the prescribed circumstances,
the opponent does not submit either evidence under subsection (7) or a statement that the
opponent does not wish to submit evidence.
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(7.2) The application shall be deemed to have been abandoned if the applicant does not file and
serve a counter statement within the time referred to in subsection (6) or if, in the prescribed
circumstances, the applicant does not submit either evidence under subsection (7) or a statement
that the applicant does not wish to submit evidence.
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(8) After considering the evidence and representations of the opponent and the applicant, the
Registrar shall refuse the application or reject the opposition and notify the parties of the decision
and the reasons for the decision.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 38; 1992, c. 1, s. 134; 1993, c. 15, s. 66.
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39. (1) When an application for the registration of a trade-mark either has not been opposed and
the time for the filing of a statement of opposition has expired or it has been opposed and the
opposition has been decided in favour of the applicant, the Registrar shall allow the application
or, if an appeal is taken, shall act in accordance with the final judgment given in the appeal.
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(2) Subject to subsection (3), the Registrar shall not extend the time for filing a statement of
opposition with respect to any application that has been allowed.
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(3) Where the Registrar has allowed an application without considering a previously filed request
for an extension of time to file a statement of opposition, the Registrar may withdraw the
application from allowance at any time before issuing a certificate of registration and, in
accordance with section 47, extend the time for filing a statement of opposition.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 39; 1993, c. 15, s. 67.
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REGISTRATION OF TRADE-MARKS
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40. (1) When an application for registration of a trade-mark, other than a proposed trade-mark, is
allowed, the Registrar shall register the trade-mark and issue a certificate of its registration.
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(2) When an application for registration of a proposed trade-mark is allowed, the Registrar shall
give notice to the applicant accordingly and shall register the trade-mark and issue a certificate of
registration on receipt of a declaration that the use of the trade-mark in Canada, in association
with the wares or services specified in the application, has been commenced by
(a) the applicant;
(b) the applicant's successor in title; or
(c) an entity that is licensed by or with the authority of the applicant to use the trade-mark, if the
applicant has direct or indirect control of the character or quality of the wares or services.
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(3) An application for registration of a proposed trade-mark shall be deemed to be abandoned if
the Registrar has not received the declaration referred to in subsection (2) before the later of
(a) six months after the notice by the Registrar referred to in subsection (2), and
(b) three years after the date of filing of the application in Canada.
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(4) Registration of a trade-mark shall be made in the name of the applicant therefor or his
transferee, and the day on which registration is made shall be entered on the register, and the
registration takes effect on that day.
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(5) For the purposes of subsection (3), section 34 does not apply in determining when an
application for registration is filed.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 40; 1993, c. 15, s. 68, c. 44, s. 231; 1999, c. 31, s. 210(F).
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AMENDMENT OF THE REGISTER
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41. (1) The Registrar may, on application by the registered owner of a trade-mark made in the
prescribed manner, make any of the following amendments to the register:
(a) correct any error or enter any change in the name, address or description of the registered
owner or of his representative for service in Canada;
(b) cancel the registration of the trade-mark;
(c) amend the statement of the wares or services in respect of which the trade-mark is registered;
(d) amend the particulars of the defined standard that the use of a certification mark is intended
to indicate; or
(e) enter a disclaimer that does not in any way extend the rights given by the existing registration
of the trade-mark.
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(2) An application to extend the statement of wares or services in respect of which a trade-mark
is registered has the effect of an application for registration of the trade-mark in respect of the
wares or services specified in the application for amendment.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 40.
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42. (1) The registered owner of a trade-mark who has no office or place of business in Canada
shall name another representative for service in place of the latest recorded representative or
supply a new and correct address of the latest recorded representative on notice from the
Registrar that the latest recorded representative has died or that a letter addressed to him at the
latest recorded address and sent by ordinary mail has been returned undelivered.
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(2) When, after the dispatch of the notice referred to in subsection (1) by the Registrar, no new
nomination is made or no new and correct address is supplied by the registered owner within
three months, the Registrar or the Federal Court may dispose of any proceedings under this Act
without requiring service on the registered owner of any process therein.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 41; R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64.
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43. The registered owner of any trade-mark shall furnish such additional representations thereof
as the Registrar may by notice demand and, if he fails to comply with that notice, the Registrar
may by a further notice, fix a reasonable time after which, if the representations are not
furnished, he may expunge the registration of the trade-mark.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 42.
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44. (1) The Registrar may at any time, and shall at the request of any person who pays the
prescribed fee, by notice in writing require the registered owner of any trade-mark that was on
the register on July 1, 1954 to furnish him within three months from the date of the notice with
the information that would be required on an application for the registration of the trade-mark
made at the date of the notice.
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(2) The Registrar may amend the registration of the trade-mark in accordance with the
information furnished to him under subsection (1).
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(3) Where the information required by subsection (1) is not furnished, the Registrar shall by a
further notice fix a reasonable time after which, if the information is not furnished, he may
expunge the registration of the trade-mark.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 43.
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45. (1) The Registrar may at any time and, at the written request made after three years from the
date of the registration of a trade-mark by any person who pays the prescribed fee shall, unless
the Registrar sees good reason to the contrary, give notice to the registered owner of the
trade-mark requiring the registered owner to furnish within three months an affidavit or a
statutory declaration showing, with respect to each of the wares or services specified in the
registration, whether the trade-mark was in use in Canada at any time during the three year
period immediately preceding the date of the notice and, if not, the date when it was last so in use
and the reason for the absence of such use since that date.
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(2) The Registrar shall not receive any evidence other than the affidavit or statutory declaration,
but may hear representations made by or on behalf of the registered owner of the trade-mark or
by or on behalf of the person at whose request the notice was given.
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(3) Where, by reason of the evidence furnished to the Registrar or the failure to furnish any
evidence, it appears to the Registrar that a trade-mark, either with respect to all of the wares or
services specified in the registration or with respect to any of those wares or services, was not
used in Canada at any time during the three year period immediately preceding the date of the
notice and that the absence of use has not been due to special circumstances that excuse the
absence of use, the registration of the trade-mark is liable to be expunged or amended
accordingly.
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(4) When the Registrar reaches a decision whether or not the registration of a trade-mark ought to
be expunged or amended, he shall give notice of his decision with the reasons therefor to the
registered owner of the trade-mark and to the person at whose request the notice referred to in
subsection (1) was given.
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(5) The Registrar shall act in accordance with his decision if no appeal therefrom is taken within
the time limited by this Act or, if an appeal is taken, shall act in accordance with the final
judgment given in the appeal.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 45; 1993, c. 44, s. 232; 1994, c. 47, s. 200.
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RENEWAL OF REGISTRATIONS
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46. (1) The registration of a trade-mark that is on the register by virtue of this Act is subject to
renewal within a period of fifteen years from the day of the registration or last renewal.
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(2) If the registration of a trade-mark has been on the register without renewal for the period
specified in subsection (1), the Registrar shall send a notice to the registered owner and to the
registered owner's representative for service, if any, stating that if within six months after the
date of the notice the prescribed renewal fee is not paid, the registration will be expunged.
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(3) If within the period of six months specified in the notice, which period shall not be extended,
the prescribed renewal fee is not paid, the Registrar shall expunge the registration.
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(4) When the prescribed fee for a renewal of any trade-mark registration under this section is
paid within the time limited for the payment thereof, the renewal takes effect as of the day next
following the expiration of the period specified in subsection (1).
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 46; 1992, c. 1, s. 135.
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EXTENSIONS OF TIME
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47. (1) If, in any case, the Registrar is satisfied that the circumstances justify an extension of the
time fixed by this Act or prescribed by the regulations for the doing of any act, he may, except as
in this Act otherwise provided, extend the time after such notice to other persons and on such
terms as he may direct.
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(2) An extension applied for after the expiration of the time fixed for the doing of an act or the
time extended by the Registrar under subsection (1) shall not be granted unless the prescribed fee
is paid and the Registrar is satisfied that the failure to do the act or apply for the extension within
that time or the extended time was not reasonably avoidable.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 46.
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TRANSFER
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48. (1) A trade-mark, whether registered or unregistered, is transferable, and deemed always to
have been transferable, either in connection with or separately from the goodwill of the business
and in respect of either all or some of the wares or services in association with which it has been
used.
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(2) Nothing in subsection (1) prevents a trade-mark from being held not to be distinctive if as a
result of a transfer thereof there subsisted rights in two or more persons to the use of confusing
trade-marks and the rights were exercised by those persons.
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(3) The Registrar shall register the transfer of any registered trade-mark on being furnished with
evidence satisfactory to him of the transfer and the information that would be required by
paragraph 30(g) in an application by the transferee to register the trade-mark.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 47.
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CHANGE OF PURPOSE IN USE OF MARK
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49. If a mark is used by a person as a trade-mark for any of the purposes or in any of the manners
mentioned in the definition "certification mark" or "trade-mark" in section 2, it shall not be held
invalid merely on the ground that the person or a predecessor in title uses it or has used it for any
other of those purposes or in any other of those manners.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 48.
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LICENCES
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50. (1) For the purposes of this Act, if an entity is licensed by or with the authority of the owner
of a trade-mark to use the trade-mark in a country and the owner has, under the licence, direct or
indirect control of the character or quality of the wares or services, then the use, advertisement or
display of the trade-mark in that country as or in a trade-mark, trade-name or otherwise by that
entity has, and is deemed always to have had, the same effect as such a use, advertisement or
display of the trade-mark in that country by the owner.
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(2) For the purposes of this Act, to the extent that public notice is given of the fact that the use of
a trade-mark is a licensed use and of the identity of the owner, it shall be presumed, unless the
contrary is proven, that the use is licensed by the owner of the trade-mark and the character or
quality of the wares or services is under the control of the owner.
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(3) Subject to any agreement subsisting between an owner of a trade-mark and a licensee of the
trade-mark, the licensee may call on the owner to take proceedings for infringement thereof, and,
if the owner refuses or neglects to do so within two months after being so called on, the licensee
may institute proceedings for infringement in the licensee's own name as if the licensee were the
owner, making the owner a defendant.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 50; 1993, c. 15, s. 69; 1999, c. 31, s. 211(F).
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51. (1) Where a company and the owner of a trade-mark that is used in Canada by that owner in
association with a pharmaceutical preparation are related companies, the use by the company of
the trade-mark, or a trade-mark confusing therewith, in association with a pharmaceutical
preparation that at the time of that use or at any time thereafter,
(a) is acquired by a person directly or indirectly from the company, and
(b) is sold, distributed or advertised for sale in Canada in a package bearing the name of the
company and the name of that person as the distributor thereof,
has the same effect, for all purposes of this Act, as a use of the trade-mark or the confusing
trade-mark, as the case may be, by that owner.
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(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any use of a trade-mark or a confusing trade-mark by a
company referred to in that subsection in association with a pharmaceutical preparation after
such time, if any, as that pharmaceutical preparation is declared by the Minister of Health, by
notice published in the Canada Gazette, to be sufficiently different in its composition from the
pharmaceutical preparation in association with which the trade-mark is used in Canada by the
owner referred to in subsection (1) as to be likely to result in a hazard to health.
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(3) In this section, "pharmaceutical preparation" includes
(a) any substance or mixture of substances manufactured, sold or represented for use in
(i) the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of a disease, disorder or abnormal physical
state, or the symptoms thereof, in humans or animals, or
(ii) restoring, correcting or modifying organic functions in humans or animals, and
(b) any substance to be used in the preparation or production of any substance or mixture of
substances described in paragraph (a),
but does not include any such substance or mixture of substances that is the same or substantially
the same as a substance or mixture of substances that is a proprietary medicine within the
meaning from time to time assigned to that expression by regulations made pursuant to the Food
and Drugs Act.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 51; 1996, c. 8, s. 32.
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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
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52. In sections 53 to 53.3,
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"court" means the Federal Court or the superior court of a province;
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"duties" has the same meaning as in the Customs Act;
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"Minister" means the Minister of National Revenue;
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"release" has the same meaning as in the Customs Act.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 52; 1993, c. 44, s. 234.
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53. (1) Where a court is satisfied, on application of any interested person, that any registered
trade-mark or any trade-name has been applied to any wares that have been imported into Canada
or are about to be distributed in Canada in such a manner that the distribution of the wares would
be contrary to this Act, or that any indication of a place of origin has been unlawfully applied to
any wares, the court may make an order for the interim custody of the wares, pending a final
determination of the legality of their importation or distribution in an action commenced within
such time as is prescribed by the order.
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(2) Before making an order under subsection (1), the court may require the applicant to furnish
security, in an amount fixed by the court, to answer any damages that may by reason of the order
be sustained by the owner, importer or consignee of the wares and for any amount that may
become chargeable against the wares while they remain in custody under the order.
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(3) Where, by the judgment in any action under this section finally determining the legality of the
importation or distribution of the wares, their importation or distribution is forbidden, either
absolutely or on condition, any lien for charges against them that arose prior to the date of an
order made under this section has effect only so far as may be consistent with the due execution
of the judgment.
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(4) Where in any action under this section the court finds that the importation is or the
distribution would be contrary to this Act, it may make an order prohibiting the future
importation of wares to which the trade-mark, trade-name or indication of origin has been
applied.
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(5) An application referred to in subsection (1) may be made in an action or otherwise, and either
on notice or ex parte.
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(6) No proceedings may be taken under subsection (1) for the interim custody of wares by the
Minister if proceedings for the detention of the wares by the Minister may be taken under section
53.1.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 53; 1993, c. 44, s. 234.
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53.1 (1) Where a court is satisfied, on application by the owner of a registered trade-mark, that
any wares to which the trade-mark has been applied are about to be imported into Canada or
have been imported into Canada but have not yet been released, and that the distribution of the
wares in Canada would be contrary to this Act, the court may make an order
(a) directing the Minister to take reasonable measures, on the basis of information reasonably
required by the Minister and provided by the applicant, to detain the wares;
(b) directing the Minister to notify the applicant and the owner or importer of the wares,
forthwith after detaining them, of the detention and the reasons therefor; and
(c) providing for such other matters as the court considers appropriate.
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(2) An application referred to in subsection (1) may be made in an action or otherwise, and either
on notice or ex parte, except that it must always be made on notice to the Minister.
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(3) Before making an order under subsection (1), the court may require the applicant to furnish
security, in an amount fixed by the court,
(a) to cover duties, storage and handling charges, and any other amount that may become
chargeable against the wares; and
(b) to answer any damages that may by reason of the order be sustained by the owner, importer or
consignee of the wares.
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(4) The Minister may apply to the court for directions in implementing an order made under
subsection (1).
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(5) The Minister may give the applicant or the importer of the detained wares an opportunity to
inspect them for the purpose of substantiating or refuting, as the case may be, the applicant's
claim.
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(6) Unless an order made under subsection (1) provides otherwise, the Minister shall, subject to
the Customs Act and to any other Act of Parliament that prohibits, controls or regulates the
importation or exportation of goods, release the wares without further notice to the applicant if,
two weeks after the applicant has been notified under paragraph (1)(b), the Minister has not been
notified that an action has been commenced for a final determination by the court of the legality
of the importation or distribution of the wares.
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(7) Where, in an action commenced under this section, the court finds that the importation is or
the distribution would be contrary to this Act, the court may make any order that it considers
appropriate in the circumstances, including an order that the wares be destroyed or exported, or
that they be delivered up to the plaintiff as the plaintiff's property absolutely.
1993, c. 44, s. 234.
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53.2 Where a court is satisfied, on application of any interested person, that any act has been
done contrary to this Act, the court may make any order that it considers appropriate in the
circumstances, including an order providing for relief by way of injunction and the recovery of
damages or profits and for the destruction, exportation or other disposition of any offending
wares, packages, labels and advertising material and of any dies used in connection therewith.
1993, c. 44, s. 234.
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53.3 Where in any proceeding under section 53.1 or 53.2 the court finds
(a) that wares bearing a registered trade-mark have been imported into Canada in such manner
that the distribution of the wares in Canada would be contrary to this Act, and
(b) that the registered trade-mark has, without the consent of the owner, been applied to those
wares with the intent of counterfeiting or imitating the trade-mark, or of deceiving the public and
inducing them to believe that the wares were made with the consent of the owner,
the court may not, other than in exceptional circumstances, make an order under that section
requiring or permitting the wares to be exported in an unaltered state.
1993, c. 44, s. 234.
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54. (1) Evidence of any document in the official custody of the Registrar or of any extract
therefrom may be given by the production of a copy thereof purporting to be certified to be true
by the Registrar.
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(2) A copy of any entry in the register purporting to be certified to be true by the Registrar is
evidence of the facts set out therein.
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(3) A copy of the record of the registration of a trade-mark purporting to be certified to be true by
the Registrar is evidence of the facts set out therein and that the person named therein as owner is
the registered owner of the trade-mark for the purposes and within the territorial area therein
defined.
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(4) A copy of any entry made or documents filed under the authority of any Act in force before
July 1, 1954 relating to trade-marks, certified under the authority of that Act, is admissible in
evidence and has the same probative force as a copy certified by the Registrar under this Act as
provided in this section.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 54.
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55. The Federal Court has jurisdiction to entertain any action or proceeding for the enforcement
of any of the provisions of this Act or of any right or remedy conferred or defined thereby.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 55; R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64.
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56. (1) An appeal lies to the Federal Court from any decision of the Registrar under this Act
within two months from the date on which notice of the decision was dispatched by the Registrar
or within such further time as the Court may allow, either before or after the expiration of the
two months.
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(2) An appeal under subsection (1) shall be made by way of notice of appeal filed with the
Registrar and in the Federal Court.
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(3) The appellant shall, within the time limited or allowed by subsection (1), send a copy of the
notice by registered mail to the registered owner of any trade-mark that has been referred to by
the Registrar in the decision complained of and to every other person who was entitled to notice
of the decision.
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(4) The Federal Court may direct that public notice of the hearing of an appeal under subsection
(1) and of the matters at issue therein be given in such manner as it deems proper.
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(5) On an appeal under subsection (1), evidence in addition to that adduced before the Registrar
may be adduced and the Federal Court may exercise any discretion vested in the Registrar.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 56; R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64.
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57. (1) The Federal Court has exclusive original jurisdiction, on the application of the Registrar
or of any person interested, to order that any entry in the register be struck out or amended on the
ground that at the date of the application the entry as it appears on the register does not
accurately express or define the existing rights of the person appearing to be the registered owner
of the mark.
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(2) No person is entitled to institute under this section any proceeding calling into question any
decision given by the Registrar of which that person had express notice and from which he had a
right to appeal.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 57; R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64.
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58. An application under section 57 shall be made either by the filing of an originating notice of
motion, by counter-claim in an action for the infringement of the trade-mark, or by statement of
claim in an action claiming additional relief under this Act.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 58.
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59. (1) Where an appeal is taken under section 56 by the filing of a notice of appeal, or an
application is made under section 57 by the filing of an originating notice of motion, the notice
shall set out full particulars of the grounds on which relief is sought.
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(2) Any person on whom a copy of the notice described in subsection (1) has been served and
who intends to contest the appeal or application, as the case may be, shall file and serve within
the prescribed time or such further time as the court may allow a reply setting out full particulars
of the grounds on which he relies.
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(3) The proceedings on an appeal or application shall be heard and determined summarily on
evidence adduced by affidavit unless the court otherwise directs, in which event it may order that
any procedure permitted by its rules and practice be made available to the parties, including the
introduction of oral evidence generally or in respect of one or more issues specified in the order.
R.S., c. T-10, s. 59.
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60. (1) Subject to subsection (2), when any appeal or application has been made to the Federal
Court under any of the provisions of this Act, the Registrar shall, at the request of any of the
parties to the proceedings and on the payment of the prescribed fee, transmit to the Court all
documents on file in the Registrar's office relating to the matters in question in those
proceedings, or copies of those documents certified by the Registrar.
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(2) The transmission of documents on which entries in the register required to be kept under
paragraph 26(1)(b) are based is subject to the provisions of subsection 50(6) of the Trade-marks
Act, as it read immediately before section 69 of the Intellectual Property Law Improvement Act
came into force.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 60; 1993, c. 44, s. 238.
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61. An officer of the Registry of the Federal Court shall file with the Registrar a certified copy of
every judgment or order made by the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal or the Supreme
Court of Canada relating to any trade-mark on the register.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 61; 2002, c. 8, s. 177.
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GENERAL
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62. This Act shall be administered by the Minister of Industry.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 62; 1992, c. 1, s. 145(F); 1995, c. 1, s. 62.
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63. (1) There shall be a Registrar of Trade-marks, appointed by the Governor in Council, to hold
office during pleasure, who shall be paid such annual salary as the Governor in Council
determines and shall be responsible to the Deputy Minister of Industry.
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(2) When the Registrar is absent or unable to act or when the office of Registrar is vacant, his
powers shall be exercised and his duties and functions performed in the capacity of acting
registrar by such other officer as may be designated by the Minister of Industry.
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(3) The Registrar may, after consultation with the Minister, delegate to any person he deems
qualified any of his powers, duties and functions under this Act, except the power to delegate
under this subsection.
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(4) Any decision under this Act of a person authorized to make the decision pursuant to
subsection (3) may be appealed in the like manner and subject to the like conditions as a decision
of the Registrar under this Act.
R.S., 1985, c. T-13, s. 63; 1992, c. 1, s. 145(F); 1995, c. 1, s. 62. |