Some Degree Of Expected Confusion With A Weak Trademark Not Enough To Prevent Registration

On February 5, 2018, Justice LeBlanc released his Judgment and Reasons in 2018 FC 121 involving the applicant, Assurant, Inc. and the respondent, Assurancia, Inc. He dismissed Assurant's appeal brought under section 56 of the Trade-marks Act and upheld a decision of the Trade-marks Opposition Board rejecting Assurant's opposition to the registration of the trade-mark ASSURANCIA by the Assurancia.

Assurancia is an insurance broker and financial services firm. It filed trade-mark application no. 1,574,477 for ASSURANCIA. The application was based on use since 2008 in association with insurance brokerage, financial services such as financial planning, and consulting services relating to insurance.