Time To Prep Now For Changes To Canadian Trademarks Laws

In June 2014, major amendments were passed to Canada's Trademarks Act. While the expected implementation date has been postponed several times, the current estimated coming-into-force date is early 2019. The changes impact everything from application to renewal, and they offer Canadian applicants, for the first time, access to streamlined foreign filing opportunities.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Simplified applications. No more filing grounds (use, proposed use or use and registration abroad).
• Use as a registration requirement will be eliminated.

New government filing, registration and renewal fees. Filing and registration fees will go from $450, in total, regardless of the number of goods/services in any application/registration, to a fee system based on the "Nice Classification of Goods and Services," which divides goods/services into 45 classes, with fees payable per class. The recommended costs will be $330 for the first class and $100 for each additional