Written by Stewart Hayne, Partner in Halifax. Canadian trademark registrations last for 10 years and are renewable upon the payment of a maintenance fee. However, lack of use in the marketplace may render your registration subject to possible expungement. Traditionally, an application for trademark expungement was initiated by an interested person seeking expungement through the […]
Corporate Structure Consider the best ownership structure for you and your partners. Below are several options for how to set up your business and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each, taking into account factors such as personal liability and income tax implications. Sole Proprietorship One individual is the sole owner of the business. Advantages: […]
Use of the Nice Classification system will eventually become mandatory in Canada, upon full implementation here of various international trade-mark treaties.
Canada has been somewhat of a laggard when it comes to the accession and implementation of international trade-mark treaties, but this is changing. While discussion has carried on for years, a serious push began in 2014 to implement three key trade-mark treaties
The existence of counterfeit products often signify that a particular brand or product has ‘made it’: it is now sufficiently popular that someone is making knock-offs. Of course, counterfeits are a nuisance for legitimate rights holders and indeed harmful to consumers, who may not get the product they expect (and certainly without the usual warranties, etc. that legitimate products carry).