As we
reported previously, Canadian trademark law will be
significantly changed to adhere to several international
treaties. Although the timing of the changes is uncertain, it
appears that the changes are likely to come into force no earlier
than 2018.
Among the changes will be a requirement for all trademark
applications and registrations to use the Nice classification
system. Canada is one of the few countries in the world that
does not currently require the use of the Nice classification
system.
In anticipation of the changes, the Canadian Trademarks Office
has begun to issue courtesy notices to owners of Canadian trademark
registrations, inviting them to voluntarily classify the goods and
services in their registrations under Nice, before the law
changes. Because classification is not required under our
current law, there is no current need to classify existing
registrations. However, once the new law comes into force,
classification will be required in
