A registered trademark legally protects your intellectual
property from misuse and imitation. But
keep in mind that if you register your trademark in Canada, it is only
protected by law in Canada.
A good trademark consists of distinctive terms which are
often arbitrary and fanciful, rather than suggestive, descriptive or generic.
Maximize the likelihood of registration by trademarking something completely
invented or that makes only the slightest reference to the nature of the wares
or services provided.
A trademark will not be registered by law if it is:
- the name or surname of a person (e.g., "Jane Smith");
- clearly descriptive of the wares or services in relation to which it is used (e.g., "Perfectly Clean" in relation to dry-cleaning services);
- a word in another language which describes the wares or services (e.g., "Gelato" - the Italian term for "ice cream" - in relation to ice cream products);
- deceptively mis-descriptive (e.g., "Air Courier" in relation to ground transportation services); or
- an official symbol, coat of arms, badge, crest, emblem or name (e.g., the Canadian flag, the letters "R.C.M.P.", the name "United Nations", the symbol of the Red Cross).
If there is a design component, you may wish to register
both the language and design separately to get maximum legal protection.
Be prepared to wait for response to your registration
application. In Canada, the process can
take up to 8-10 months to complete. If
there is opposition, the process can take much longer. Fees are $250 for each trademark request and
non-refundable, so make sure your trademark is distinct and original in order
to have a successful registration.
For more information on trademarks, please visit CorporationCentre.ca!
