An Overview of the Trade-marks Regulations

1996-01-01

1
ANOVERVIEWOFTHETRADE-MARKSREGULATIONS(1996)

by
LaurentCarrièreandHuguesG.Richard*
LEGERROBICRICHARD,Lawyers,
ROBIC,Patent&TrademarkAgents
CentreCDPCapital
1001Square-Victoria-BlocE–8
thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.(514)9876242-Fax(514)8457874
www.robic.ca-info@robic.com

TheTrade-MarksRegulations(1996)werepublishedinthe1996.05.01editionof
theCanadaGazette-PartII(vol.130,No9,pp.1306-1326)andcameinto
forceon1996.04.16(DORS/96-195P.C.1996-490).Hereisabriefoverviewof
theseregulations.
GENERALPROVISIONSANDCORRESPONDENCE:RULES1-17
OnemaynowcorrespondwiththeRegistrarbyfacsimileforallmatters,other
thanforanapplicationfortheregistrationofatrade-mark(r.3).
Communicationcanbemade(exceptfortheOppositionBoard)withthe
generalnumberforthemailroomat,(819)997-3671.Afacsimileisdeemed
tobereceivedbytheRegistraronthedayitistransmitted,wherethe
transmissiontakesplacebeforemidnight,atHulltime.Transmissionby
facsimiledoesnotrequireacopyofconfirmation.Thefollowing,however,
cannotbetransmittedbyfacsimile:whateverrequirestobeaccompanied
bypaymentandwhateverisrequiredtobesignedontheoriginal(for
example,evidenceinoppositionmattersorinasection45proceedings).

©1996LaurentCarrièreandLEGERROBICRICHARD.
*Lawyerandtrademarkagent,LaurentCarrièreisaseniorpartner
inthelawfirmLEGERROBICRICHARD,g.p.andinthepatentand
trademarkagencyfirmROBIC,g.p.;Lawyerandtrademarkagent,
HuguesG.RichardisaseniorpartnerinthelawfirmLEGERROBIC
RICHARD,g.p.andinthepatentandtrademarkagencyfirm
ROBIC,g.p.
ThismaterialwasdesignedforthepurposeofageneralreportonCanadian
Legislation..Itwasmeantfordiscussionanddoesnotconclusivelystatetheopinionoftheir
authorsorthemembersoftheirrespectivefirmsonthesubjectmatternordoesitprovidean
exhaustivereviewthereof.Publishedat(1996),13CanadianIntellectualPropertyReview167-
172.Publication209E.

2
Thegeneralrulepertainingtocorrespondenceisthatinordertocancelthe
registrationofatrade-mark,or,toappointarepresentativeforservice
(section41(1)),eachcommunicationaddressedtotheRegistrarshalldeal
withonlyoneapplicationoroneregistrationofatrade-mark(r.5).Thisisnot
thecasehoweverforthetransferofrights,(section48)andforthechangeof
nameoraddressofanapplicantorofaregisteredowner.
Ifthetrade-markapplicationispending,thecorrespondencemustindicate
thenameoftheapplicant,aswellastheapplicationnumber(ifavailable)
andthetrade-markitself.Ifthetrade-markisregisteredhowever,onemust
indicatetheregistrationnumber,theapplicationnumberandthetrade-mark
itself(r.7).Ifanaddressneedstobefurnisheditshouldincludethestreet
nameandnumber(ifitexists)andthepostalcode(r.6).
AlldocumentsfiledwiththeOfficeoftheRegistrarofTrade-marksshallbe
presentedonwhitepaper.Thedocumentdoesnotnecessarilyhavetobe
typed,howeveritmustbepresentedclearlyandlegibly.Itshouldmeasure(r.
13)aminimumof81/2″x11″(21cmx28cm)andamaximumof81/2″x14″
(22cmx35cm).Leftanduppermarginsshouldmeasureatleast1″(2.5cm).
(Theoretically,thesedimensionsshouldalsoapplytoevidencethatisfiled).
TheregulationsnolongerincludeformsinScheduleII.Moreover,thereisno
longertherequirementthatthesealoftheTrade-MarkOfficebeappended
oncertificatesissuedbytheRegistrar.Theprescribedfeesarenowpayable
totheReceiverGeneral,inCanadiancurrency,andmustbeforwardedto
theRegistrar(r.12).
Finally,theFrenchtranslationoftheTrade-MarksJournalhasbecomethe
JournaldesMarquesdeCommerce(r.2).
TRADE-MARKAGENTS:RULES18-23
Tobeeligibletositforaqualifyingexamination,onemustmeetoneofthe
followingconditions.Eitherbeabarristerorsolicitorentitledtopractiseas
suchinaprovince,or,anotaryentitledtopractiseassuchintheprovinceof
Quebec.Otherwise,onemusthaveworkedinCanadaintheareaof
Canadiantrade-marklawandpracticeincludingthepreparationand
prosecutionofapplicationsfortheregistrationsoftrade-marks,foraperiodof
notlessthan24months.Therulesdonotspecifyiftheworknecessarilyhasto
beonacontinuousbasisnorifitnecessarilyhastobeunderthesupervisionof
aregisteredagent.Furthermore,theprevious”proofofgoodreputation”
requirementnolongerexists(r.18).
Thefollowingpersonsmaybeenteredonalistoftrade-markagents:

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(a)ACanadianresidentwhohaspassedthequalifyingexamination;

(bAbarristersolicitor,ornotaryentitledtopracticeassuchinthe
provinceofQuebec,whohassubmittedanaffidavitdeclaring
thathehasworkedforatleast24monthsintheareaoftrade-
marklawincludingthepreparationandprosecutionof
applicationsforregistrationoftrade-marks(therulesdonot
specifyifithastobeCanadian
trade-marklawnoriftheyearsof
worknecessarilyhavetohavebeenonacontinuousbasisin
Canada).

(c)Aresidentofanyothercountrywhoisentitledtopractisebefore
theTrade-MarksOfficeofthatcountry.Ifhedoesnotresidein
Canada,however,heshallappointanassociateagentwhoisa
residentofCanada(r.9);

(d)Anyfirmhavingthenameofatleastoneofitsmembersentered
onthelistasatrade-markagent(r.21).

AstotheExaminingBoard,itsmembersareappointedbytheRegistrar.The
RegistrarisnolongeramemberoftheExaminingBoard(r.19).Withregards
totherenewalofone’sregistrationastrade-markagent,theRegistrarwillin
thefuturesendonlyonenoticeofrenewal(r.22).
APPLICATIONSFORREGISTRATION:RULES24-29
Thepreviousrequirementtofileaspecimenofthetrade-marknolonger
exists.Rather,theRegistrarmayrequirethataspecimenofthetrade-markas
usedbefurnishedifhedeemsittobeappropriate.Thispolicyapplies
retroactivelyforallpendingapplications(r.29).
Applicationsfortheregistrationoftrade-marksnolongerrequiretobesigned.
Thismaypredictfuturefilingbyelectronicmail(r.25).TheRegistrarrequires
thatonlyonedrawingofatrade-markbeincludedwiththeapplication(r.
25).Thedrawingshallbeinblackandwhiteandinthefollowingformat(r.
27):
(a)Itshallbenolargerthan23/4″by23/4″(7cmx7cm).

(b)Itmaybereproducedonpaperthatsatisfiestherequirementsof
r.13.

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(c)TheRegistrarmayrequireanapplicanttofileanewdrawingifit
isnotsuitableforreproductioninthejournal.

However,rule28providesthatifinanapplicationfortrade-markregistration
acolourisclaimedasafeature,thecolourshallbedescribed.Ifthe
descriptionisnotclear,theRegistrarmayrequiretheapplicanttofilea
drawinglinedforcolourinaccordancewiththecolourchartfoundatr.28(2)
Rule29providesthattheRegistrarcanrequirethetranslationineitherFrench
orEnglishofwhatisnotineitherofthesetwolanguages.Furthermore,he
mayalsorequireatransliterationofthematerialwherethetrade-mark
containsmaterialexpressedincharactersotherthanLatincharactersorin
numeralsotherthanArabicorRomannumerals.
Rule25washarmonizedwithsection34oftheAct,sothatthedateofthe
filingofanapplicationisdeemedtobetheprioritydateclaimed.
Notethatrule25a)(iii)(B)doesnottakeintoconsiderationthenewwordingof
paragraphs16(2)oftheAct(i.e.,inorforthecountryoforigin)and30d)of
theAct(i.e.,inorforanothercountryoftheUnion).Anamendmentshould
beexpected.
AMENDMENTSOFAPPLICATIONS:RULES30-34
Applicationsfortheregistrationofatrade-markcanstillbeamended(r.30).
However,itisnowclearthatwhenatrade-markapplicationbasedonuseor
makingknown,hasbeenadvertised,itcannotbeamendedintoan
applicationforaproposedtrade-mark.
ItisnowpossiblefortheRegistrartocorrectclericalerrorsinanyinstrumentof
record,whethertheerrorisdiscoveredbytheRegistrarorarequestismade
bytheapplicant,registeredownerortrade-markagentoftheapplicantor
registeredowner.Thecertificateofcorrectionnolongerexists.
STATEMENTOFOPPOSITION:RULES35-47
ThestatementofoppositionmuststillbefiledwiththeRegistrarinduplicate(r.
38).Allcorrespondenceinrespectofanoppositionmustclearlystatethatit
relatestotheoppositionproceeding(r.35).
Acopyofallcorrespondenceinanoppositionproceedingmustbe
forwardedtotheotherpartyinvolved.Thisrequirementdoesnotapply,

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however,totheinitialstatementofoppositionnordoesitapplytowritten
arguments(r.36andsection38(5)oftheAct).Everyexhibittoanaffidavitor
declarationfiledinanoppositionhastobefiledwiththeaffidavitor
declaration(r.45).
Documentsareservedeitherbyregisteredmail,or,servedpersonally.Priority
mail,messengerservicesorfacsimilearenotacceptedmeansofservice.
OnemayhowevercorrespondwiththeRegistrarbyfacsimile.Thenumberfor
theOppositionBoardis:(819)997-5092(r.3).
Formerrules40to49havebeenre-numbered38to47.Rule39pertainstothe
filingandserviceofthecounter-statementofopposition;rule41pertainsto
thefilingwiththeRegistrarandserviceontheapplicantoftheevidenceof
theopponentbywayofaffidavit,orstatutorydeclaration,orthestatement
thattheopponentdoesnotwishtosubmitevidence.
Rule42pertainstotheevidenceoftheapplicantandrule43covers
evidenceinreply.Cross-examinationsandtheadmissibilityofadditional
evidencearedealtwithatrule44.Additionalevidencemaybeadducedat
anytimeuntiladecisionisrenderedwithleaveoftheRegistrarandonsuch
termsastheRegistrardeterminestobeappropriate.Cross-examinations,
however,areonlypossiblebeforetheRegistrargivesnoticethattheparties
mayfilewrittenargument.
Hereinbelowisatableofthosestepsandrelatedrules::
Statementofoppositionr.38etss.38(1)
Counter-statementr.39etss.38(6)defaultss.38(7.2)
Evidenceoftheopponentr.41etss.38(7)defaultss.38(7.1)andr.
41(2)
Evidenceoftheapplicantr.42etss.38(7)defaultss.38(7.2)andr.
42(1)
Replyevidencer.43etss.38(7)
Requestforcross-examinationr.44(2)
Filingofthetranscriptr.44(4)
Withdrawalofaffidavitr.44(5)
Filingofwrittenargumentsr.46(2)
Requestforhearingr.46(4)
TheRegistrar’spractiseofwithdrawingevidencefromthefileforfailureto
attendacross-examinationisnowofficial(r.44(5)).Thepartywhoproceeds
withacross-examinationisresponsibleforthefilingoftranscripts,supporting
documentsandanswerstoundertakings(r.44(4)).(However,thequestion

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concerningthefilingofapartofthecross-examinationorapartofthere-
examinationstillremainsunclear).
Theamendmenttoastatementofoppositionortoacounter-statementis
possiblewithleave(r.40).Moreover,whereinanoppositionproceedingany
extensionoftimeisgrantedtoaparty,rule47providesthattheRegistrarmay
thereaftergrantareasonableextensionoftimetotheotherpartyforthe
takingofanysubsequentstep.

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TRANSFER:RULES48-50
TheRegistrarnolongerrequirestheoriginalinstrumentoftransferoracertified
copytherefor,rather,evidenceofthetransferaloneisnowsufficient(r.48);
photocopiesorfacsimilesareaccepted.
Thepartialtransferofatrade-markthatisregisteredoristheobjectofan
applicationforregistrationcanberecognizedbytheRegistrar.Ifitconcerns
anapplicationforregistration(r.49),theRegistrarmayrecognizethetransfer;
eachownermustfileanamendmentofthatapplicationrestrictedtothose
waresorservicesforuseinrespectofwhichthepersonownsthetrade-mark.
Eachsaidamendedapplicationwillbeconsideredasacontinuationofthe
originalapplicationforthepurposesofpreservingthebenefitofthedateof
filingoftheoriginalapplication,buteachamendedapplicationwillotherwise
betreatedinsubsequentproceedingsasaseparateapplication.Ifthe
transferpertainstoatrade-markthatisalreadyregistered(r.50),eachowner
isdeemedtobeaseparateregisteredowner,andforthepurposesof
sections43to46oftheAct,isdeemedtohaveaseparateregistrationofthe
trade-mark.
REGISTER:RULES51-52
ThekindofinformationthattheRegistrarmustkeepontheregisteroftrade-
markshasbeenrevisedinordertotakeintoconsiderationtheamendments
totheAct.
OBJECTIONTOANINDICATIONOFORIGIN:RULES53-61
Section11.13oftheActprovidesthataninterestedpersonmayfilea
statementofobjectionwithinthreemonthsafterthepublicationinthe
CanadaGazetteofastatementbytheMinisterinrespectofageographical
indication.Thenewrules,concerningobjectionproceedingsaresimilarto
thoseforoppositionproceedings.
Hereinbelowisatableofthosestepsandrelatedrules::
Statementofoppositionss.11.13(1)
Counter-statementss.11.13(4)defaultss.11.13(4)infine
Evidenceoftheopponentss.11.13(5)andr.55(1)defaultss.
11.13(6)etr.55(2)
Evidenceoftheauthorityss.11.13(5)andr.56
Replyevidencess.11.13(5)andr.57
Requestforcross-examinationss.11.13(5)andr.58(2)

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Filingofthetranscriptr.58(4)
Withdrawalofevidencer.58(5)
Filingofwrittenargumentsr.60(3)
Requestforhearingr.60(4)
Theserviceofproceedingsandevidencetheretoareeffectedbyregistered
mailorbypersonalservice(r.53).Thepersonobjectingmustfilethe
statementofobjectionwiththeRegistrarandserveitontheresponsible
authority(subsection11.13(1)oftheAct).Anamendmentofastatementof
objectionorcounter-statementispossiblewithleavefromtheRegistrar(r.54).
Whereinanobjectionproceedinganyextensionoftimeisgrantedtoa
party,theRegistrarmaythereaftergrantareasonableextensionoftimeto
theotherpartyforthetakingofanysubsequentstep(r.61).Moreover,
additionalevidencemaybeadducedwhereleaveisgrantedbythe
Registrar(r.58(1)).
However,thesolereasonforanobjectionisthattheindicationisnota
geographicalindication(subsection11.13(2)oftheAct).
TRADE-MARKS:SUGGESTEDFORMS
Paragraph65b)oftheActpermitstheGovernorinCounciltomake
regulationsforcarryingintoeffectthepurposesandprovisionsofthisAct,
namelyontheformofapplicationstotheRegistrar.Invirtueofrule15ofthe
previousTrade-MarksRegulations,onehadtousetheformsmentionedin
scheduleIIofthoseregulations.Suchformsarenolongermentionedinthe
Trade-MarksRegulations(1996).However,rule14oftheseregulations
foreseesthattheRegistrarmaypublishformsintheTrade-MarksJournal.
Infact,inthe1996.05.29editionoftheTrade-MarksJournal(vol.43,No2170,
p.152),theRegistrardidpublishsuggestedforms.Thesearenearlythesame
asthosementionedinthescheduleIIofthepreviousregulations.
Itisofinteresttorememberthatsection32oftheInterpretationActR.S.C.
1985,c.I-21istotheeffectthatonceaformisprescribed,variationsthatdo
notmodifythesubstancenorareofthetypetoinduceerror,donot
invalidatetheformused:seeHoudev.CommissiondesEcolesCatholiques
duQuébec(1977),[1978]1S.C.R.937DicksonJ.atpage944.Inanycase,the
noncompulsorycharacteroftheformsproposedbytheRegistraris
recognizedinhispracticenotice.

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depuis1892àlaprotectionetàlavalorisationdelapropriétéintellectuelledanstousles
domaines:brevets,dessinsindustrielsetmodèlesutilitaires;marquesdecommerce,marques
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ROBIC,agroupoflawyersandofpatentandtrademarkagentsdedicatedsince1892tothe
protectionandthevalorizationofallfieldsofintellectualproperty:patents,industrialdesigns
andutilitypatents;trademarks,certificationmarksandindicationsoforigin;copyrightand
entertainmentlaw,artistsandperformers,neighbouringrights;computer,softwareand
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COPYRIGHTER
IDEASLIVEHERE
ILATOUTDEMÊMEFALLUL’INVENTER!
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NOSFENÊTRESGRANDESOUVERTESSURLEMONDEDESAFFAIRES
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R
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THETRADEMARKERGROUP
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