Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 23 JUNE 2025

Québec's New Language Law Changes: Is Your Business Compliant?

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Contributor
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

With over 750 lawyers, intellectual property agents and other professionals, BLG services...

View firm profile
Explore more from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

New rules governing how businesses can use trademarks, display signage and advertise have now come into effect in Québec, following the adoption of new provisions in the Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business.

CanadaIntellectual Property
Clara Chow
Clara Chow
Noelle Engle-Hardy
Noelle Engle-Hardy
Gabriel St-Laurent
Gabriel St-Laurent
Author LinkedIn connections

New rules governing how businesses can use trademarks, display signage and advertise have now come into effect in Québec, following the adoption of new provisions in the Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business. In fact, the final version of the regulation has taken a step back from the amendments proposed earlier and reinstated more flexible provisions. Here's what you need to know.

Trademark translation requirements

The trademark exception still applies to all "recognized" trademarks (both registered and unregistered), meaning they can appear without French translation when used on:

  • Products and packaging
  • Documentation and manuals
  • Websites
  • Printed advertising, including catalogues and brochures

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

CIPO Issues Practice Notice On Redacting Postal Addresses And Removing Unrelated Documents From TDRS

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has issued new guidance on when trademark applicants can redact postal addresses or remove documents from public records. Understanding these strict requirements and exceptional circumstances is crucial for protecting privacy while maintaining compliance with Canada's trademark registration transparency obligations.
CanadaIntellectual Property
Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala
Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala
Article

Patenting Innovation In Data Centres: Protecting Configurations, Cooling Technologies, And The Green Advantage

The rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure has made these facilities a focal point for technological innovation and intellectual property investment. From server configurations to advanced cooling systems, the technologies deployed inside data centres represent significant R&D expenditure and competitive advantages. Patent protection offers operators and developers opportunities to safeguard innovations...
GlobalIntellectual Property
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Fast-Tracking Your Patent Application In Canada: CIPO Expands The Key Technology Expedited Program

For Canadian innovators, the patenting process can seem unreasonably slow. In an effort to address this, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) created various procedures to expedite the examination process in Canada. Knowing which fast track options exist, when they make sense, and how to use them effectively can provide a significant commercial advantage.
CanadaIntellectual Property
Cassels
Cassels
Article

From Duties To Import Bans: The Canada–U.S. Tariff War After The Collapse Of Negotiations

The United States has escalated its trade dispute with Canada by imposing import bans on alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and motorcycles under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, while Canada responds with matched counter-tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of U.S. goods. Following the collapse of bilateral negotiations in August 2026, both nations have entered an unprecedented phase of trade restrictions that extends beyond traditional tariffs to include procurement exclusions and threatens further auto
GlobalInternational Law
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

Canada Investment Summit 2026: What Business Leaders Need To Know

Canada's inaugural Investment Summit in September 2026 aims to attract $1 trillion in investment across defence, infrastructure, Indigenous partnerships, technology, energy, critical minerals and agriculture. This analysis examines the federal measures shaping the Summit's agenda and outlines the key legal, regulatory and structuring considerations businesses and investors should evaluate when assessing nation-building opportunities in Canada.
CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

New Churchill Falls Agreement: Key Terms For Newfoundland And Labrador, Québec And Canadian Power Markets

Newfoundland and Labrador's House of Assembly has approved a landmark definitive cooperation and implementation agreement that would replace the 1969 Churchill Falls Power Contract, pair the redevelopment of Churchill Falls with the Gull Island project, and establish new transmission pathways through Québec. The agreement faces political uncertainty in Québec ahead of the October 2026 provincial election...
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

SCC Clarifies When Administrative Errors Are “irregularities” Requiring Annulment Of Election

The Supreme Court of Canada annulled a federal election in Terrebonne, Quebec after a single mail-in ballot went uncounted due to an Elections Canada administrative error—a postal code mistake that directly affected the one-vote margin of victory. In a 6-3 decision, the majority clarified that serious administrative errors can constitute "irregularities" under the Canada Elections Act even without fraud or intentional wrongdoing, fundamentally reshaping how courts balance electoral integrity against v
CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

Prediction Markets And IGaming Update: Forecasting More Developments Ahead

Canadian securities regulators have drawn a clear line excluding sports and entertainment prediction markets from securities regulation, leaving provincial gaming authorities to develop frameworks for these emerging platforms. Meanwhile, Quebec's political landscape suggests a potential opening of its iGaming market, and the Supreme Court prepares to rule on whether Ontario operators can legally connect players internationally through pooled liquidity arrangements.
CanadaCorporate/Commercial Law
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

New AI Safety Standard Relevant To Canadian School Boards

A major U.S. vendor agreement has established a rigorous new AI safety standard for educational technology, prohibiting the use of student data for AI training and enforcing strict data minimization. While the standard does not directly bind vendors in Canada, Canadian school boards can leverage this precedent to demand equivalent contractual protections and strengthen their own AI governance frameworks.
CanadaTechnology
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP