Hello,

A trademark registry lists all registered marks identifying a particular good or service. A trademark is any combination of word or image that represents a good or service. To protect a brand’s logo, colors, symbol, name or any other part, one must first file and receive a trademark status. Once registered, the registrant, usually a business, is the only entity that can use those marks for the benefit of the company. That registrant then can sue any party that infringes upon the rights granted by the trademark. If the violation is intentional, the consequences will be harsher than if someone unintentionally uses a trademark that is already registered.

When one wants to apply for trademark status, there is a considerable amount of research that needs to be done. The first step is to find the governing agency responsible for maintaining the trademark registry. A search should be done in several different ways to pull up any possible matches. For example, if a trademark contains a blooming flower, it may or may not be in violation with another registered trademark that shows another blooming flower. It is up to the governing agency to make that determination based upon the geographical location the image will be used, the type of good or service that will be provided, etc. A blooming flower that represents a national sales firm might not represent a commercial threat to a blooming flower that represents a local greenhouse.


Thanks,

craig wilson and company patent agents canada

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