Extension of the Time Limit to File the Declaration of Use Required by Paragraph 40(3) of the Trade-marks Act

2007-01-01

E
XTENSIONOFTHETIMELIMITTOFILETHEDECLARATIONOFUSE
REQUIREDBYSUBSECTION40(3)OFTHETRADE-MARKSACT

LAURENTCARRIÈRE*
LEGERROBICRICHARD,
L.L.P.
L
AWYERS,PATENT&TRADEMARKAGENTS
DECLARATIONOFUSE
Whenanapplicationfortheregistrationofatrade-markisbasedontheintentionto
usethetrade-markinCanada,onemustfirstfileadeclarationwhichstatesthatthe
applicanthascommenceduseofthetrade-markinCanada,inordertoobtainthe
registration.Paragraph40(2)oftheTrade-marksActstatesthefollowing
1:

Marquedecommerceprojetée
Lorsqu’unedemanded’enregistrementd’une
marquedecommerceprojetéeestadmise,le
registraireendonneavisaurequérant.Il
enregistrelamarquedecommerceetdélivreun
certificatdesonenregistrementaprèsavoirreçu
unedéclarationportantquelerequérant,son
successeurentitreoul’entitéàquiestoctroyée,
parlerequérantouavecsonautorisation,une
licenced’emploidelamarqueauxtermesde
laquelleilcontrôledirectementouindirectement
lescaractéristiquesetlaqualitédes
marchandisesetservicesacommencéà
employerlamarquedecommerceauCanada,
enliaisonaveclesmarchandisesouservices
spécifiésdanslademande.P
roposedtrade-mark
Whenanapplicationforregistrationofa
proposedtrade-markisallowed,theRegistrar
shallgivenoticetotheapplicantaccordingly
andshallregisterthetrade-markandissuea
certificateofregistrationonreceiptofa
declarationthattheuseofthetrade-markin
Canada,inassociationwiththewaresor
servicesspecifiedintheapplication,hasbeen
commencedby
(a)theapplicant;
(b)theapplicant’ssuccessorintitle;or
(c)anentitythatislicensedbyorwiththe
authorityoftheapplicanttousethetrade-
mark,iftheapplicanthasdirectorindirect
controlofthecharacterorqualityofthewares
orservices.

Whenmustthisdeclarationbefiled?Usually,itwillbefiledoncetheapplicationfor
registrationhasbeenallowed
2,followingparagraph40(3),whichstates3:

CIPS,1998-2007.*Lawyerandtrade-markagent,LaurentCarrièreisapartnerofLEGERROBICRICHARD,L.L.P.,a
multidisciplinaryfirmoflawyers,andpatentandtrademarkagents.Publication230E.
1Trade-MarksAct,R.C.S.1985,c.T-13,assection40ismodifiedbyC.S.1993,c.15,s.68andC.S.
1993,c.44,s.231.
2Theregistrarwillthusissuea“notificationofallowance”,thelastparagraphofwhichreads:

Abandondelademande
Lademanded’enregistrementd’unemarquede
commerceprojetéeestréputéeabandonnéesi
ladéclarationd’emploimentionnéeau
paragraphe(2)n’estpasreçueparleregistraire
danslessixmoisquisuiventl’avisdonnéaux
termesduparagraphe(2)ou,siladateenest
postérieure,àl’expirationdestroisansqui
suiventlaproductiondelademandeau
Canada.A
bandonmentofapplication
Anapplicationforregistrationofaproposed
trade-markshallbedeemedtobeabandoned
iftheregistrarhasnotreceivedthe
declarationreferredtoinsubsection(2)before
thelaterof
(a)sixmonthsafterthenoticebythe
Registrarreferredtoinsubsection(2),
and
(b)threeyearsafterthedateoffilingofthe
applicationinCanada.
Thus,thedeclarationofusemustbefiled:
·withinsix(6)monthsofthedatefromwhichtheregistrationwasallowed,or
·withinthree(3)yearsofthedateoffilingoftheapplicationforregistration
accordingtothetimelimitwhichismostadvantageousfortheapplicant.
4
Ifanapplicationforregistrationisfiledon2008-01-01andtheregistrationisallowed
on2009-01-01,theapplicantwillhaveuntil2011-01-01tofilethedeclarationofuse
(withinthreeyearsofthedateoffilingoftheapplicationforregistration).However,if
anapplicationforregistrationisfiledon2008-01-01butiftheregistrationisonly
allowedon2012-01-01(morethanthree(3)yearsofthedateoffilingofthe
applicationforregistration),theapplicantwillhaveuntil2012-07-01(six(6)monthsof
thedatefromwhichtheregistrationwasallowed)tofilethedeclarationofuse.
FAILURETOFILE

Enconformitéduparagraphe40(2)delaLoisur
lesmarquesdecommerce,uneDÉCLARATION
indiquantquelerequérantacommencéàutiliser
lamarquedecommerceauCanadaenliaison
aveclesmarchandiseset/ouservices
mentionnésdanslademandedoitêtrefourniele
ouavantleJJ-MM-AAAAàdéfautdequoila
demandeseraréputéeabandonnéeenvertudu
paragraphe40(3)delaLoi.Lorsdela
préparationdeladéclarationd’emploi,veuillez
s.v.p.vousréféreràl’énoncédes
marchandises/servicesquifiguresurladernière
feuilledevérificationquevousavezreçue..
Pursuanttosub-section40(2)oftheTrade-marks
Act,aDECLARATIONofuseoftheTrade-markin
Canadainassociationwiththewaresand/or
servicesspecifiedintheapplciationmustbefiled
onorbeforeDD-MM-YYYYfailingwhichthe
applicationshallbedeemedabandonned
pursuanttosub-section40(3)oftheAct.When
preparingyourdeclarationofuse,pleasereferto
thestatementofwares/servicesappearinginthe
latestProofSheetthatyouhavereceived.

3Asmodifiedbythecomingintoeffect,on1994-01-01ofsection231oftheNorthAmericanFree
TradeAgreementImplementationAct,C.S.1993,c.44).
Intheory,nothingpreventsthedeclarationofusefrombeingfiledbeforethenotification.

3
Iftheapplicantdoesnotfilethedeclarationofuse,hisapplicationforregistrationwill
bedeemedtobeabandoned,withoutanynoticetothateffectbytheregistrar5.
Therewillbesuchanotice6iftheapplicationforregistrationcontainsabasisother
thantheonewhichisplanned7:inthiscase,theregistrarwillsendanotice8which
willstatethattheportionoftheapplicationwhichisbasedonaforeseenuseofthe
trade-markisabandoned,butwillalsogranttheapplicantanadditionaldelayoftwo
(2)monthsinorderforhimtoproceedwithrespecttoanyotherbasis
9,whichthe
applicationmightcontain10.

5Section36wouldbeinapplicablebecausethetimelimitforthefilingofthedeclarationofuseis
specificallystipulatedintheAct.
6Section36wouldapplybecausethereisnostatutoryprovisionregardinganobligationwithrespect
tothefinalfeefortheissuance.
7Theregistrar’snoticereadasfollows:
Sivotredéclarationnenousparvientpasdans
lesdélaisprévus,lebureauprocéderaà
l’enregistrementenfonctionde(s)l’autre
(autres)revendication(s).I
fnodeclarationofuseisfiledwithinthe
prescribedtime,theofficewillproceedto
registrationbasedontheother(s)claim(s).

8Whichnoticereads:
ANNULATIOND’UNEREVENDICATION
Article16(3)C
ANCELLATIONOFCLAIM
Section16(3)
Larevendicationàl’enregistrementselonla
dispositiondel’article16(3)delaLoisurles
marquesdecommerceaétéannuléeparceque
lerequérantn’apasproduitsadéclaration
d’emploi.
T
heclaimtoregistrationbasedontheprovisionof
section16(3)oftheTrade-marksActhasbeen
cancelledsincetheapplicantfailedtosubmitthe
declarationofuse.

Parailleurs,pourquenouspuissionsenregistrer
lamarquedecommerce,baséesurlapartiedéjà
utiliséeseulement,lerequérantdoitacquitterle
droitd’enregistrementprescritdedeuxcent
(200,00$)dollars.
H
owever,beforethisapplicationcanproceedto
registrationbasedontheusedclaim(s)only,itwill
benecessaryfortheapplicanttosubmitthe
prescribedregistrationfeeoftwohundred
($200.00)dollars.

Nousvousaccordonsparlaprésenteune
prolongationjusqu’au24octobre2005pourvous
permettred’acquitterlesditsfrais
d’enregistrement.
Y
ouareherebygrantedanextensionoftimeuntil
October24,2005inwhichtopaytheregistration
fee.

Deplus,soyezaviséquesiaucuneréponsen’est
donnéeavantladatepescrite,cettedemande
seratraitéecommeétantabandonnéeselon
l’article36delaLoisurlesmarquesde
commerce.I
faresponseisnotfiledonorbeforethe
prescribeddate,thisapplicationwillbetreatedas
abandonedincompliancewithsection36ofthe
Trade-marksAct.

9Thatis,atrade-markusedinCanada,atrade-markwhichhasbeenrevealedinCanada,oratrade-
markwhichhasbeenregisteredinacountrywhichisamemberoftheUnionandwhichisused
elsewhereintheworld.
10Essentially,forthe“registrationofatrade-mark,includingtheissuancewithoutadditionalfeesofthe
correspondingcertificateofregistration”paythefeeof200$,whichisprovidedforbyitem15ofPartII
ofthescheduleentitled“TariffofFees”,whichreferstosection12oftheTrade-MarksRegulations,
itselfenactedbyvirtueofParagraph65(e)ofTrade-marksAct.Itmustbenotedthatitisnolonger

4
Thefilingofadeclarationofusecoveringonlypart11ofthewaresorserviceswill
causetheregistrationtoissueonlyforthoseswaresorservices12..
EXTENSIONOFTIMELIMIT
Theapplicantwhocannotfilethedeclarationofusewhichisprovidedforby
paragraph40(2),withinthetimelimitprovidedforbyparagraph40(3),can,however,
bypayingofftheprescribedfee
13,askforanextensionofthetimelimit,in
accordancewithparagraph47(1)14,whichstatesthefollowing:

Prorogations
Si,dansuncasdonné,leregistraireest
convaincuquelescirconstancesjustifientune
prolongationdudélaifixéparlaprésenteloiou
prescritparlesrèglementspour
l’accomplissementd’unacte,ilpeut,sauf
dispositioncontrairedelaprésenteloi,
prolongerledélaiaprèsl’avisauxautres
personnesetselonlestermesqu’illuiest
loisibled’ordonner.[Lesitaliquessontnôtres.]E
xtensionsoftime
If,inanycase,theRegistrarissatisfiedthat
thecircumstancesjustifyanextensionofthe
timefixedbytheActorprescribedbythe
regulationsforthedoingofanyact,hemay,
exceptasinthisActotherwiseprovided,
extendthetimeaftersuchnoticetoother
personsandonsuchtermsashemaydirect.
[Ouremphasis.]
Itmustbepointedoutthatthepowersgrantedtotheregistrarinaccordancewith
section47oftheActareofdiscretionaryandadministrativenature
15.

requiredtofilesampleswhichdemonstratethemannerinwhichthetrade-markisused,whetherthe
applicationisintendedfortheregistrationofawordorofadesigntrade-mark.
11Atleastwithrespecttothewaresorservicescoveredbytheproposedusebasis.12InCanada,anapplicationcouldbepartiallyassignedbutcannotbedivided.13Theprescribedfeeforanapplicationforanextensionoftime,byvirtueofsubsection47(1)or(2)of
theAct,forthedoingofanyoneormoreacts,is125$foreachact:item9ofpartIofthe«Tariffof
Fees».
14Subsection47(2)applieswhenanextensionisappliedforaftertheexpirationofthetimefixedfor
thedoingofanact.Inthecaseofadeclarationofuseorofanapplicationtoextendthetimelimitfor
doingsowhichisnotfiledwithintheprescribedtimelimit,theregistrarcanaccedetoa“retroactive”
applicationtoextendthetimelimit,providedthattheregistrarissatisfiedthattheomissionwasnot
reasonablyavoidable,thattheprescribedfeeispaid[wepayonlyonefee,andnotonefeeforthe
applicationunderparagraph47(2)andanotherfeeundersubsection47(1)]andthatfailurehasnot
alreadybeennotedandtheapplicationdeemedtobeabandoned,byvirtueofsubsection40(2).
Regardingtheapplicationofsubsection47(2),seeFjordPacificMarineIndustriesLtd.v.Canada
(RegistrarofTrade-marks)(1975),20C.P.R.(2d)108(F.C.T.D.),judgeMahoneyatpage112;Rust-
OleumCorporationv.Canada(RegistrarofTrade-marks)(1986),8C.I.P.R.1(F.C.T.D.)Teitelbaum
J.,atpage5;Rust-OleumCorporationv.Canada(RegistrarofTrade-marks)(1986),8C.I.P.R.213
(F.C.T.D.),MartinJ.,atpage216.
15See,amongothers,A.LassondeInc.v.Canada(RegistrarofTrade-marks)(2003),[2003]4F.C.
618(F.C.)LemieuxJ.,atparagraph40;KitchenCraftConnectionLtd.v.Canada(RegistrarofTrade-
marks)(1991),48F.T.R.85(F.C.T.D.),DubéJ.,atpage87;CentennialPackersLtd.v.Canada
PackersInc.(1987),15C.P.R.(3d)103(F.C.T.D.),JoyalJ.,atpage14,CanadianSchenley

5
DURINGTHEFIRSTTHREEYEARS
Theregistrarmustbesatisfiedthatthecircumstancesjustifytheextensiontime.
Thus,avaguestatementsuchas“Wehavebeeninformedthattheapplicantcannot
filethedeclarationofuseprovidedforbyparagraph40(2)oftheActbecausethe
trade-markisnotyettotallyusedinCanadawithrespecttoallthemerchandiseand
serviceswhicharementionedintheapplicationforregistration”,isinsufficient.The
registrarhasrevised/standardisedhisfilingpolicyandonemust,sinceApril14,
1998,provideatruereasonfortheextension
16andnotsimplystatethatthemarkis
notyetusedandthatmoretimeisneededtocommercialiseitinCanada17.During
thefirstthree(3)years,whichfollowtheperiodwhenregistrationisallowed,this
reasondoesnotneedtobe“significantandsubstantial”;however,onemust
nonethelessbeprovided
18.Thisisthemeaningthatmustbegiventothe
administrativedirective,whichreadsasfollows19:

1.Prolongationde6mois
LeBureauoctroieprésentementdes
prolongationsdedélaidesixmoislorsquele
délaipourdéposerladéclarationd’emploiest
expirésilarequêteestjustifiéeetqueledroit
prescritde50$estacquitté.
1
.Sixmonthextension
AsofApril14,1998,onthefirstrequestforan
extensionoftimeoranysubsequentone,ifa
reasonisnotprovidedthatwouldjustifythe
extensionoftime,theofficewillrefusethe
extensionoftimeandallowtheapplicanttwo
monthstofurtherrespond.

DistilleriesLtd.v.Canada(RegistrarofTrade-marks)(1975),20C.P.R.(2d)108(F.C.T.D.),Mahoney
J.,atpage112;CentenialGroceryBrokersLtd.v.Canada(RegistrarofTrade-marks)(1972),5
C.P.R.(2d)235(F.C.T.D.),HealdJ.,atpage239.
16Theregistrar’scommunicationsbearthisnote:
Nousvousrappelonsqu’envertudel’article
47(1)delaloi,leregistrairedoitêtreconvaincu
quelescirconstancesjustifientl’octroid’une
prolongationdudélaifixéparlaprésenteloi.Y
ouareremindedthatundertheconditionsof
Section47(1)oftheTrade-marksAct,the
Registrarmustbesatisfiedthatthe
circumstancesjustifygrantinganextensionof
timefixedbythisAct.

17Byanalogy,seeInreComdialCorp.(1993),32U.S.P.Q.(2d)1863(U.S.P.T.O–Comm.),atpage
1864:“Sincepetitioner’sextensionrequestmerelysetforthastatementthatithadmadeongoing
effortsbutdidnotspecifyanytype(s)ofongoingeffortsthatwereactuallybeingmade,theextension
requestdidnotincludeashowingofgoodcause,anditwasproperlydenied”;seealsoInreSparc
InternationalInc.(1993),33U.S.P.Q.(2d)1479(U.S.P.T.O.-Comm.),atpage1480.
18Here,onemustbewareoftoomuchimagination/creativity,becausewhatiswrittenremainsand
couldcomebacktohaunthimif,inordertoobtainanextension,hetwistedthetruthoreveninvented
anexcuse.Itispreferabletoasktheclient/correspondenttoindicatewhatthereasonsfornon
commercialisationare,evenifthismeanssuggestingsomepossiblereasons.
19PublishedintheeditionsofJuly8,1998,July15,1998,andJuly22,1998,oftheTrade-Marks
Journal,vol.45,no2280,2281and2282.Thisnoticerecapturesinparttheonewhichwaspublished
intheeditionsofJanuary28,1998,February4,1998,February11,1998,andFebruary18,1998,in
theTrade-MarksJournal,vol.45,no2257,45-2258,2259and2260.

6
Àcompterdu14avril1998,àlapremière
demandedeprolongationdedélaietles
suivantes,s’iln’yapasderaisonsdonnées,le
Bureaurefuseralaprolongationdedélaiet
donneraaurequérantdeuxmoisadditionnels
pourrépondre.A
sofApril14,1998,onthefirstrequestforan
extensionoftimeoranysubsequentone,ifa
reasonisnotprovidedthatwouldjustifythe
extensionoftime,theofficewillrefusethe
extensionoftimeandallowtheapplicanttwo
monthstofurtherrespond.
Atthisstageintheapplication,theTrade-marksOfficedoesnothaveany
establishedpolicyregardingthenatureoftheapplicationbutwillmostlikelyaccept
20
allgoodreasons,whethertheyaresimpleorgeneral,withoutquestioningtheir
existenceandwithoutanyinquiriesaboutdocumentaryevidence
21.Whichreasons
justifyanextensionofthetimelimit?TheAct,therulesandthedirectivesaresilent.
However,itisinterestingtonotethat,intheUnitedStates,theUSPTOindicatesthat,
withrespecttothecommercialisationeffortsthatmustbeallegedbyanapplicant
whofindshimselfinasimilarsituation
22,willberecognised23,inanonexhaustive
manner,thefollowingreasons:
Thoseeffortsmayinclude,withoutlimitation,productorservice
researchordevelopment,marketresearch,manufacturingactivities,
promotionalactivities,stepstoacquiredistributors,stepstoobtain
requiredgovernmentalapproval,orothersimilaractivities.Inthe
alternative,asatisfactoryexplanationforthefailuretomakesuch
effortsmustbesubmitted
24.
Theseveringofadistribution/licensingcontract,thebankruptcyofadistributor,a
largenumberofmerchandiseorservices,aspecialisedmarketorhighendproducts,

20Telephoneconversation,on1998-09-24,betweenLaurentCarrièreandtheAdministratorofthe
declarationsandregistrationssection,LiseAudette.Thepurposeofthistelephoneconversationwas
onlytoclarifythepolicyoftheTrade-MarksOffice,whichcanbemodifiedwithoutpriornotice.
21Consideringthattheclerksofthedeclarationssectionareabletoreadandthat,intheeventthat
onewouldattempttoautomatically/routinelyusethesamereason,duringthesethree(3)firstyears,
questionscouldbeaskedtotheapplicant,usuallyintheformofaparagraphincludedinthenoticeof
thegrantingoftheextension,whichinformstheapplicantthatasubsequentapplicationcouldbe
refusedifthecircumstancesarenotwellsupported.
22IntheUnitedStates,anapplicationwhichisbasedontheintentiontouse(or«ITU»)mustalsobe
accompaniedbythefilingofadeclarationofuse[seeParagraph1051(d)oftheAmericanActand
section2.88ofitsRegulation;thequestionregardingtheextensionoftimelimitsisstrictlyregulated:
seesection2.89oftheRegulationwithrespecttowhatmustbeincludedintheapplication],orelse
theapplicationisdeemedtobeabandoned.Thefirsttwo(2)extensionsofsix(6)monthscanbe
obtainedquasi-automaticallybutthefourothers–alsoofsix(6)months-mustbejustifiedaccordingto
therules.Ifthedeclarationofuseisnotfiledwithinthethirtysix(36)monthsoftheacceptanceofthe
registration,thentheapplicationisdeemedtobeabandoned,withoutanyotherpossibilityof
extension.Onthissubject,seegenerallyThomasMcCarthy,McCarthyonTrademarksandUnfair
Competition,4
thed.(NewYork,Thomso/West,1996),at§19:25,updated6/2004.23Duringthistelephoneconversation,on1998-09-24,betweenLaurentCarrièreetLiseAudette,Ms
AudetteinformallyindicatedthatanyofthereasonsmentionedintheTMEB’slistwouldbeacceptable
fortheCIPO,atleastduringtheinitialperiodofthree(3)years.
24TrademarkManualofExaminingProcedure,4thed.,RevApril2005(Washington,Patentand
TrademarkOffice,1997),at§1108.Alsoavailableat
http://tess2.uspto.gov/tmdb/tmep/1100.htm#_T1108.

7
achangeinagivensectoroftheeconomy,legalproceduresorthedelaycausedby
anopposition,theassignmentofthemarkinquestionoracorporatereorganisation,
shouldalsobesufficientreasonsforthegrantingofanextensionofthetimelimit,
duringthecourseofthefirstthree(3)years
25.
STANDARDTIMELIMITEXTENSION
Thestandardtimeextensionisofsix(6)months.However,whentheuseofthemark
isdelayedbecausetheapplicantisawaitingagovernmentapproval
26,theextension
oftimewillthenbeoftwelve(12)months27.Thisisthemeaningthatmustbegiven
tothesecondpartofthepracticenotice28whichreadsasfollows:

2.Prolongationde1an
LeBureauoctroieprésentementdes
prolongationsdedélaid’unanlorsqu’un
requérantestenattented’uneapprobation
gouvernementaleavantquelamarquesoiten
utilisation.
Àcompterdu14avril1998,àlapremière
demandedeprolongationdedélaietles
suivantes,silademandeestenattented’une
approbationgouvernementale,leBureau
demanderadespécifierleministèredontle
requérantattendl’approbation.2
.Oneyearextension
TheOfficecurrentlygrantsextensionsoftimeof
oneyearwheretherequestforanextensionof
timeisbasedonasituationinwhichthe
applicantrequiresatypeofgovernment
approvalbeforeuseofthetrade-markcan
begin.
AsofApril14,1998,onthefirstrequestandon
anysubsequentone,iftherequestisbasedon
awaitingapprovalfromagovernment
department,theOfficewillrequirespecificsof
thegovernmentdepartmentfromwhichthe
applicantisseekingapproval.
Thetrade-marksofficewillthusrequirethatthenameofthegovernmentdepartment
inquestionbeindicated
29anddoesnotrequireacopyofdocumentaryevidence30.

25InInreAlcoIndustriesInc.(1995)34U.S.P.Q.(2d)1799(U.S.P.T.O.-Comm.)itwas,withrespect
tothemark“QUALITYPRODUCTSFROMPEOPLEWHOCARE”successfullyargued,inorderto
obtainanextension,that“(1)themarkislong,sothatitfitsonpackagingforgoodsbetterthanon
goodsthemselves;(2)thegoodsarepresentlyinpackageswhichdonotincludethemark;(3)itis
expensivetoredesignthepackagetoincludethemark;and(4)whennewpackagingisdevelopedfor
thegoods,applicantintendstoincludethemarkinthenewpackaging”.
26ItcanbeanapprovalbytheFederalGovernment,byaProvincialGovernmentorevenbya
MunicipalGovernment[confirmationviatelephoneon1998-09-24bytheassistantdirector,Linda
Powers].
27Thefeeremainsunchanged:$125perrequestforanextensionoftime,whetheritisforaperiodof
six(6)ortwelve(12)months.
28PublishedintheeditionsofJuly8,1998,July15,1998andJuly22,1998,oftheTrade-Marks
Journal,vol.45,no2280,2281and2282.Thispracticenoticerecapturedinparttheonewhichwas
publishedintheeditionsofJanuary28,1998,February4,1998,February11,1998,andFebruary18,
1998,intheTrade-MarksJournal,vol.45,no2257,45-2258,2259and2260.
29Forthemoment,itisnotrequiredtoincludetheparticulardepartmentoftheministry.However,it
wouldbewisetoincludeitifitisavailable.

8
Thisaspectofthepolicytargetsallrequiredgovernmentapprovals31,eveniftheydo
notcoverallthemerchandiseoralltheserviceswhicharementionedinthe
application
32:ifatleastonemerchandiseorserviceiscovered,theextensionof
twelve(12)monthsapplies.Furthermore,contrarytopopularopinion,these
governmentapprovalsarenotlimitedtopharmaceuticalproductsor
parapharmaceuticals,buttargeteveryrequiredgovernmentapproval
33.
AFTERTHREEYEARS
Thingsgetmorecomplicatedinthecaseofarequestforanextensionoftimethat
extendsbeyondtheperiodofthree(3)yearsfromtheoriginaldeadlinetofilea
declarationofuse.TheTrade-marksOfficewillrequestsignificantandsubstantive
reasons.Thisisprescribedbypartthreeoftheadministrativedirectives
34,which
statesthefollowing:

30However,theOfficecould,incaseofdoubt,requestfurtherexplanationsorcorroborating
documents.Itisimportanttorememberthat,byvirtueofsection29oftheAct,everythingthatisfiled
withtheregistrarispublic:thus,oneshouldnothesitatetoconcealconfidentialinformationwhile
indicatingthereasonbehindtheconcealment.
31ThePracticeNoticedoesnotspecifythatitmustbeanapprovalbyaCanadiangovernment.In
fact,theTrade-MarksOfficecanacceptarequestforanapprovalmadetoanygovernmentauthority,
evenanonCanadianone(forexample,theAmericanFDA):inthiscase,theextensionoftwelve(12)
monthsappliesaswell.
32Shrewdindividualshadalreadyunderstoodthisand,mainlyinthecaseof“blockade”registrations,
apharmaceuticalproductwouldbeaddedinorderto“extend”thedelaysatalowercost.The
consequencesofsuchabehaviorontheapplication,notablyinregardoftheintenttousethetrade-
markintoto,remaintobedecided.
33Forexample,approvalbyvirtueofbankinglegislation,permittoconductbusinessinanother
province,zoningregulation,etc.Seealso,forinstance,PestControlProductsRegulations
(SOR/2006-124),MedicaldevicesRegulations(SOR98-282)orMotorVehicleTireSafetyRegulation,
1995(SOR/95-148).
34PublishedintheeditionsofJuly8,1998,July15,1998,andJuly22,1998,oftheTrade-Marks
Journal,vol.45,no2280,2281and2282.ThisPracticeNoticerecapturedinparttheonewhichwas
publishedintheeditionsofJanuary28,1998,February4,1998,February11,1998,andFebruary18,
1998,intheTrade-MarksJournal,vol.45,no2257,45-2258,2259and2260,whichreadasfollows:
Àcompterd’aujourd’hui,àl’expirationdudélai
detroisansàcompterdeladateindiquéedans
l’avisd’admissionpoursoumettreune
déclarationd’emploi,leBureauexigerades
raisonsconsidérablesetsubstantiellespour
justifierl’octroid’uneautreprorogationdedélai
ainsiquelesdétailsspécifiquesempêchantle
dépôtdeladéclarationd’emploi.Ledroit
prescritde50$doitêtreacquittépourchaque
demande.[Lesitaliquessontnôtres.]E
ffectiveimmediately,upontheexpirationof
threeyearsfromtheinitialdeadlinetofilea
DeclarationofUseprovidedintheNoticeof
allowance,theofficewillrequiresignificant
andsubstantivereasonswhichclearlyjustifya
furtherextensionoftimeandwhichsetoutin
detailthereason(s)whyitisnotyetpossible
tofileaDeclarationofUse.Theprescribed
feeof$50.00isrequiredforeachrequest.
[Ouremphasis.]
[Theprescribedfeeisnow$125.00.]

3.Raisonsconsidérablesetsubstantielles
Lapratiqueadministrativepubliéedansle
journaldesmarquesdecommercele28janvier
1998,4février1998,11février1998et18
février1998,énonçaitqueleBureauexigerait
desraisonsconsidérablesetsubstantiellespour
justifierl’octroid’uneautreprolongationdedélai
aprèsledélaidetroisansàcompterdeladate
indiquéedansl’avisd’admissionpoursoumettre
unedéclarationd’emploi.L’évaluationafinde
déterminersiuneraisonestconsidérableet
substantielle,serafaitesurunebase
individuelleparleGestionnairedelasectiondes
déclarationsetdesenregistrementsetla
Directriceadjointe,Directiondesmarquesde
commerce.[Lesitaliquessontnôtres.]3
.Significantandsubstantivereasons
TheOfficePracticeNoticepublishedinthe
Trade-marksJournalJanuary28,1998,
February4,1998,February11,1998and
February18,1998,statedthattheOfficewill
requiresignificantandsubstantivereasonsto
supportarequestforanextensionoftimethat
extendsbeyondtheperiodof3yearsfromthe
originaldeadlinetofileadeclarationofuse.
Thedeterminationofwhetherareasonis
significantandsubstantivewillbedecidedona
individualbasisbythemanagerofthe
DeclarationandRegistrationSectionandthe
AssistantDirector,Trade-marksBranch.[Our
emphasis.]

Thispartofthedirective,whichrequires“significantandsubstantivereasons”35or,if
weprefer,“considerableandsubstantivereasons”36,targetsrequestsforan
extensionoftimethatextendbeyondtheperiodofthree(3)yearsfromtheoriginal
deadlinetofileadeclarationofuse.Again,thejustifiedextensionswillbegrantedfor
periodsofsix(6)ortwelve(12)months
37,accordingtothesituation.

35Accordingtothe1994revised3rdeditionoftheCollinsEnglishDictionary,“significant”means“1.
Havingorexpressingameaning;indicative3.Important,notable,ormomentouswhereas
“substantive”means2.Of,relatingto,containing,orbeingtheessentialelementofathing”.[The1999
editionprovidesforthesamedefinitions.]Accordingtothe1983editionoftheGageCanadian
Dictionary,“significant”means“1.Fullofmeaning;important;ofconsequence”whereas“substantive”
means“3.Real,actual;4.Havingafirmandsolidbasis”.Finally,the1996editionofTheOxford
EnglishReferenceDictionarydefines“significant”as“1.havingameaning;indicative;3.Noteworthy;
important;consequential”and“substantial”as“ofrealimportance,value,orvalidity”.The2004edition
oftheCanadianOxfordDictionnarydefines«substantial»as«1.ofgreatimportanceorconsequence
2.havingorconveyinganunstatedmeaning;havinginformationthatcanbegathered;3.noteworthy,
noticeable».
36Accordingtothe1996editionofLenouveaupetitRobert,«considérable»means«1.VIEILLIQui
attirelaconsidération[i.e.,motifquel’onapouragir]àcausedesonimportance,desavaleur,desa
qualité;2.Trèsimportant(grandeur,quantité)»alorsque«substantiel»signifie«1.Essentiel.;2.Qui
appartientàlasubstance[i.e.,cequiconstituelachose],àl’essence,àlachoseensoi;3.Quinourrit
beaucoup;4.Richeensubstanceparsoncontenu;5.Important.».[The2007editionprovidesforthe
samedefinitions.]Accordingtothe3rd1997editionoftheMultidictionnairedelalanguefrançaise,
«considérable»signifie«Importantparlenombre,leprix,laforce;syn.Énorme;grand;immense»
alorsque«substantiel»signifie«1.Nutritif;2.Dontlecontenuestétoffé,riche;3.Important».[The4th
2003editionprovidesforthedsaemdefinitions.]Finally,the1998editionoftheLepetitLarousse
illustrédefines«considérable»as«Dontl’importanceestgrande;notable»et«substantiel»comme
«1.Nourrissant.2.Important,considérable.3.Essentiel,capital.4.Relatifàlasubstance[i.e.,matière
dontqqchestformé]».[The2007editionprovidesforthesamedefinition.]
37Wecanpresumethat,inthecaseofpharmaceuticaltrade-marks,thelongwaitingperiodforthe
grantingofagovernmentapprovalshouldbeconsideredasa“significantandsubstantivereason”.
However,theobtaining,fromamunicipality,ofasimplepermitwhichallowsonetodobusinesswould
notbeconsideredasa“significantandsubstantivereason”.

Itmustnowbedeterminedwhatconstitutesa“significantandsubstantive”reason.
EventhoughtheTrade-marksOfficeintends,atleastforthetimebeing,totreatthe
issueonacasebycasebasis
38,wecanalreadypresumethatwhatwouldbe
consideredasaspecialcircumstance,thusexcusingthenonuseincaseofa
forfeitureprocedurebyvirtueofsection45oftheAct,shouldbeacceptedbythe
Trade-marksOffice
39.However,thesereasonsshouldgobeyondnormal
commercialisationefforts40(suchasthesearchforbusinesspartners)41.

Inclosing,itshouldbenotedthat,whentheTrade-marksOfficeisnotsatisfiedwith
thegivenreasonsinsupportofarequestforanextensionoftime,anoticewillbe
given
42whichwillrefusetheextensionbutwillgranttheapplicantthepossibilityto

38Atleastforthebeginningofthecomingintoeffectofthispolicy,inordertoassureconsistency–
whichisoftenfoundtobemissing-withrespecttotheexaminers.
39Withoutanydoubt,thenatureoftheproductsandservicesandthecarewhichisgiventothe
presentationoftherequestforanextensionoftimecanalsohelp.Thisdoesnotmeanthat,tobe
consideredas“significantandsubstantive”,thereasonmustbeextraordinary,resultformasuperior
forceorfromagalacticinvasion.Thus,intheTMO742237request,thefollowinghasbeenaccepted
asa“significantandsubstantive”reason:“ResponsivetoyourJuly10,1998letter,pleasenotethat
theabove-mentionedapplicationisstillundertheprocessofbeingtransferredtothecompany
LUXINDEXSRT,S.L.Unfortunately,thisassignmenthasnotyetbeenrecordedinviewofproblems
surroundingthedueexecutionofthedocumentsbeforethecompetentSpanishauthorities.Weare
informedthatthenatureoftheseproblemsareconfidentialbutshouldberesolvedwithinthenextsix
monthshencethepresentrequestforanextensionoftimeofsixmonths”.
40Forexample,theneedfornewtests,inordertoupgradeaproduct,couldbeareasonwhichcould
justifytheextensionoftimeduringthefirstperiodofthree(3)years,butnotlateron.However,ifthis
furtherupgrade,duringthefollowingperiod,isdeemedtobenecessarybecauseofachangeinthe
scientificorgovernmentalnorms[brieflyexplainedandnotsimplyalleged],thiscould,withoutany
doubt,beconsideredasa“significantandsubstantive”reason.
41Onecanalsoforeseesituationswherethesamereasonwhichjustifiedtheextensionduringthefirst
periodofthree(3)yearswouldalsobeconsideredasa“significantandsubstantive”reason.For
example,oenology,asweallknow,helpsthetrackingofpesticides,fungicidesandherbicidesinwine;
thisbeingsaid,theapprovalofmoleculesdevelopedbythephytosanitaryindustry,forthispurpose,
takeseight(8)years…
42Inordertoillustrate,thisiswhatanoticeissuedonAugust3,1998,wouldcontain,inpart:

11
presentbetterreasonswithintwo(2)monthsofthenotice43.Iftheyareaccepted,
theextensionoftimewillbeofsix(6)months(oroftwelve(12)months,ifthecase
arises)fromthefilingoftheimprovedrequest
44.Thispolicyapplies,whetherthe
requestforanextensionoftimeismadewithinthefirstperiodofthree(3)yearsor
duringthefollowingperiod.
SUMMARY
Letussummarize.
·Withinsix(6)monthsofthenoticeofallowanceorthree(3)yearsofthe
filingoftheapplication:noexplanation/reason/justificationneedstobe
provided;
·Withinthethree(3)yearsthatfollowtheexpirationofthesix(6)monthsof
thenoticeofallowanceorthree(3)yearsofthefilingoftheapplication:
circumstanceswhichmustconvincetheregistrartograntanextensionneed
tobeprovided;
·Afterthethree(3)yearswhichfollowtheexpirationofthesix(6)months
followingthenoticeofallowanceorthree(3)yearsofthefilingofthe
application:thereasonsmustbesignificantandsubstantial.

Lesraisonsexposéesdansvotrelettrenesont
pasjugéessuffisantespourjustifiertouteautre
prorogationdedélai.
Vousêtesdoncaviséparlaprésentequesiles
exigencesexposéesdanslanotification
d’acceptationémisele26août1994[doncilya
plusde3ansmêmesioncomputeàcompter
dudélaioctroyésoitdanscecas,le26février
1995]n’ontpasétérempliesavantle3octobre
1998[donc2moisdel’avis],lademandesera
abandonnéeenconformitéavecl’article40(3)
delaLoisurlesmarquesdecommerce.
Veuillezprendrenotequ’aucuneautre
prorogationdedélaineseraaccordéeàmoins
quedesraisonsconsidérablesetsubstantielles
nesoientsoumises,lesquellesjustifient
clairementl’octroid’uneprorogationdedélai
additionnelle.T
hereasonsoutlinedinyourletterarenot
consideredsufficienttojustifyanyfurther
extensionoftime.
Accordingly,youareherebyadvisedthatif
therequirementsoutlinedintheNoticeof
AllowanceissuedonAugust26,1994have
notbeenfulfilledpriortoOctober3,1998,
thisapplicationwillbeabandonedin
compliancewithsection40(3)oftheTrade-
marksAct.
Pleasenotethatnofurtherextensionsof
timewillbegrantedunlesssignificant
substantive[takenotethatthe“and”inthe
administrativedirectivehasbeenomitted]
reason(s)areprovidedwhichclearlyjustify
thegrantofafurtherextensionoftime.

43Inthiscase,itisnotnecessarytopayanotherfeeof$125.00:TheTrade-marksOfficeconsiders
theimprovedrequestasbeingapartoftheinitialoneandwillthusreimbursethefeewhichwill
accompanytheimprovedrequest.Therewillbenoreimbursementifnoimprovedrequestisfiled.
44Forthosewhowishtoextendthedelaystotheirmaximum,thiswouldresultinanextensionofeight
(8)oroffourteen(14)months,dependingonthecircumstance.

12
SMALLCHART
Letususetheexampleofatrade-markwhichhasbeenallowedforregistrationon
2007-07-01andforwhichtheinitialtimelimittofileadeclarationofusewassetfor
2008-01-01.Thefollowingchart
45illustrates,stepbystep,thetypeofreasonsthat
mustbebroughtforward:

Withintheinitial3yearsofthetimelimitsetinthenoticeof
allowance
Subsequentlytothe3yeartimelimit
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8thTheothers2008010120080701200901012009070
12
0100101201007012011010120110701
Reasons
justifying
the
requestR
easons
justifying
the
requestR
easons
justifying
the
requestR
easons
justifying
the
requestR
easons
justifying
the
requestR
easons
justifying
the
requestS
ignificantand
substantive
reasonsS
ignificantand
substantive
reasonsS
ignificantand
substantive
reasons

45TheUSsituationmaybesummarizedbythefollowingchart.Inanycase,themaximumperiodwill
be36monthsfromtheallowancetoregistration(andnotfromtheexpirationoftheinitialsstatutory6
months)tofilethestatementofuse(SOU).

Initial
6-MonthITU
Application
Period
A
utomatic
6-Month
Extension
Period
S
ubsequent
6-Month
Extension
Period
S
ubsequent
6-Month
Extension
Period
S
ubsequent
6-Month
Extension
Period
S
ubsequent
6-Month
Extension
Period

PTOsends
aNoticeof
AllowanceM
ustmake
requuest
withinthe
originalsix
month
term,
includea
verification
of
continued
intentionto
usesthe
markin
commerce,
andmust
remitfee.M
ustshow
goodcause(as
definedbythe
Commissionner)
andmeetthe
same
requirementsas
intheinitial
periodM
ustshow
goodcause(as
definedbythe
Commissionner)
andmeetthe
same
requirementsas
intheinitial
periodM
ustshow
goodcause(as
definedbythe
Commissionner)
andmeetthe
same
requirementsas
intheinitial
periodM
ustshow
goodcause(as
definedbythe
Commissionner)
andmeetthe
same
requirementsas
intheinitial
period

Fig.19:25CChartofPeriodsofExtensionofTimetofileSOU,McCarthyOnTrademarks.

AVISDEPRATIQUE

Publiédansleséditionsdes8juillet1998,15
juillet1998et22juillet1998duJournaldes
marquesdecommerce,vol.45,n
os2280,2281
et2282.

PRACTICENOTICE

PublishedintheissuesofJuly8,1998,July
15,1998andJuly22,1998oftheTrade-
marksJournal,vol.45,nos2280,2281and
2282.

1.Prolongationde6mois
LeBureauoctroieprésentementdes
prolongationsdedélaidesixmoislorsquele
délaipourdéposerladéclarationd’emploiest
expirésilarequêteestjustifiéeetqueledroit
prescritde50$estacquitté.
Àcompterdu14avril1998,àlapremière
demandedeprolongationdedélaietles
suivantes,s’iln’yapasderaisonsdonnées,le
Bureaurefuseralaprolongationdedélaiet
donneraaurequérantdeuxmoisadditionnels
pourrépondre.
1
.Sixmonthextension
TheOfficecurrentlygrantsextensionsoftime
ofsixmonthsupontheexpirationofthetime
limittofileadeclarationofuseiftherequestis
justifiedandtheprescribedfeeof$50.00is
paid.
AsofApril14,1998,onthefirstrequestforan
extensionoftimeoranysubsequentone,ifa
reasonisnotprovidedthatwouldjustifythe
extensionoftime,theofficewillrefusethe
extensionoftimeandallowtheapplicanttwo
monthstofurtherrespond.

3.Raisonsconsidérablesetsubstantielles
Lapratiqueadministrativepubliéedansle
journaldesmarquesdecommercele28janvier
1998,4février1998,11février1998et18
février1998,énonçaitqueleBureauexigerait
desraisonsconsidérablesetsubstantiellespour
justifierl’octroid’uneautreprolongationdedélai
aprèsledélaidetroisansàcompterdeladate
indiquéedansl’avisd’admissionpoursoumettre
unedéclarationd’emploi.L’évaluationafinde
déterminersiuneraisonestconsidérableet
substantielle,serafaitesurunebase
individuelleparleGestionnairedelasectiondes
déclarationsetdesenregistrementsetla3
.Significantandsubstantivereasons
TheOfficePracticeNoticepublishedinthe
Trade-marksJournalJanuary28,1998,
February4,1998,February11,1998and
February18,1998,statedthattheOfficewill
requiresignificantandsubstantivereasonsto
supportarequestforanextensionoftimethat
extendsbeyondtheperiodof3yearsfromthe
originaldeadlinetofileadeclarationofuse.
Thedeterminationofwhetherareasonis
significantandsubstantivewillbedecidedon
anindividualbasisbythemanagerofthe
DeclarationandRegistrationSectionandthe
AssistantDirector,Trade-marksBranch.[Our

14
Directriceadjointe,Directiondesmarquesde
commerce.[Lesitaliquessontnôtres.]e
mphasis.]

15
ROBIC,ungrouped’avocatsetd’agentsdebrevetsetdemarquesdecommerce
vouédepuis1892àlaprotectionetàlavalorisationdelapropriétéintellectuelledans
touslesdomaines:brevets,dessinsindustrielsetmodèlesutilitaires;marquesde
commerce,marquesdecertificationetappellationsd’origine;droitsd’auteur,
propriétélittéraireetartistique,droitsvoisinsetdel’artisteinterprète;informatique,
logicielsetcircuitsintégrés;biotechnologies,pharmaceutiquesetobtentions
végétales;secretsdecommerce,know-howetconcurrence;licences,franchiseset
transfertsdetechnologies;commerceélectronique,distributionetdroitdesaffaires;
marquage,publicitéetétiquetage;poursuite,litigeetarbitrage;vérificationdiligente
etaudit.ROBIC,agroupoflawyersandofpatentandtrademarkagentsdedicated
since1892totheprotectionandthevalorizationofallfieldsofintellectualproperty:
patents,industrialdesignsandutilitypatents;trademarks,certificationmarksand
indicationsoforigin;copyrightandentertainmentlaw,artistsandperformers,
neighbouringrights;computer,softwareandintegratedcircuits;biotechnologies,
pharmaceuticalsandplantbreeders;tradesecrets,know-how,competitionandanti-
trust;licensing,franchisingandtechnologytransfers;e-commerce,distributionand
businesslaw;marketing,publicityandlabelling;prosecutionlitigationandarbitration;
duediligence.
COPYRIGHTER
IDEASLIVEHERE
ILATOUTDEMÊMEFALLUL’INVENTER!
LAMAÎTRISEDESINTANGIBLES
LEGERROBICRICHARD
NOSFENÊTRESGRANDESOUVERTESSURLEMONDEDESAFFAIRES
PATENTER
R
ROBIC
ROBIC+DROIT+AFFAIRES+SCIENCES+ARTS
ROBIC++++
ROBIC+LAW+BUSINESS+SCIENCE+ART
THETRADEMARKERGROUP
TRADEMARKER
VOSIDÉESÀLAPORTÉEDUMONDE,DESAFFAIRESÀLAGRANDEURDELA
PLANÈTE
YOURBUSINESSISTHEWORLDOFIDEAS;OURBUSINESSBRINGSYOUR
IDEASTOTHEWORLD

AURENTCARRIÈRE