New Trademark Regime

The long-awaited new Canadian trademark regime came into force on June 17, 2019. In its final form, the most significant changes include the following:

Registration

• classification of goods and services based on the Nice Classification;
• a per-class fee structure ($330 CDN for the first class and $100 CDN for each additional class for applications filed online; paper filings will cost more)
• a registration term of 10 years (as opposed to the prior 15-year term, still applicable, though, to registrations with a renewal date prior to June 17, 2019)
• elimination of requirement to claim a specific use basis for trademark applications (all applications will be filed on the basis of "use or proposed use in Canada")