Some interesting and lesser-known trade-mark facts: An early use of trade-marks in Britain was by bakers who wanted to distinguish their baked goods from other bakers. The Baker's Marking Law of 1266 regulated this practice and was an early precursor…
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Public Authorities in Canada gain special rights and provisions for trade-marks used in conjunction with their public actions, services, and wares. So long as a "public authority" is controlled by a Canadian Government (municipalities, provincial legislatures, etc.) and its function…
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Several of my clients operate websites from which US residents can order their products. These clients have registered Canadian trade-marks, and sell their products world-wide over the Internet. A common question from these clients is "Can I get a US…
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Can you get one trademark registration that gives you full international protection? The simple answer is no. Each country or jurisdiction has its own laws or rules regulating trademarks, and in order to gain protection in each of these jurisdictions,…
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UK pop quintet ONE DIRECTION is facing legal action from a US band of the same name, claiming that it had the name registered in the US first, and was famous enough that it is confusing to the public, even…
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"I think I'll wait until my business is bigger and profitable until I register my trademark." Despite Twitter using the word TWEET since its first post in 2006, it never got around to registering its trademark until 2009, years later…
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Did you know that Administrative Professionals Day® is actually a registered US trademark? When you wish someone Happy Administrative Professionals Day® today, you may be infringing on the rights of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Really?? Oddly enough, recall…
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Can you recognize these businesses from a single glance at their corporate logo? Click here for some trademark fun. See how many corporate logos you recognize! The strength of these trademarks comes partly from marketing, but also from their enforcement…
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A groundbreaking decision today by the Canadian Federal Court now allows the registration of sounds as trademarks, and paved the way for other non-traditional trademarks. In 1992 Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer Studios (MGM) applied to trademark the lion roar that occurs during their…
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Jeremy Lin, a recent young protege and rising star in the NBA, has gained Lin-stant fame for his amazing skills on the basketball court. The sudden and viral effects of his debut into the sport has coined the term "Lin-sanity".…
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