The Customs Request For Assistance Regime For Counterfeit Goods May Be In Force In Early 2015

Bill C-8, the Combating Counterfeit Products Act (the "Act"), received Royal Assent on December 9, 2014. The law is intended to give trademark and copyright owners additional options for dealing with the importation and sale of counterfeit goods. The Bill passed through its required three readings in the House of Commons on October 2, 2014, before being passed by the Senate on December 8, 2014.

Once proclaimed into force, the Act will amend the Trademarks Act and Copyright Act to provide a new procedure by which customs authorities may detain goods at the border that are suspected of being counterfeit products. The "Request for Assistance" procedure is rumoured to be coming into force in January 2015, with implementation of the remaining amendments to the Trademark Act and Copyright Act provided for in the Act expected at a later date.