Changes To Renewal Terms For Canadian Trademark Registrations Under Bill C-31 – Avoiding Potential Pitfalls

Among the many changes to Canadian trademark law that will result from Bill C-31 is a change to the renewal period for trademark registrations. While Bill C-31 has received Royal Assent and is thus now law, the Canadian Trademarks Office has indicated that the amendments to the Trademarks Act ("Act") will not actually come into force until late 2015 or early 2016. This intervening period will provide time for the Trademarks Office to oversee the necessary amendments to the Trademarks Regulations and to make changes to its information technology systems. The precise date on which the amendments to the Act will come into force is therefore not yet known. As discussed below, this could lead to some uncertainty regarding renewal terms for trademark registrations during the transition period to the new legislation.