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Trade-marks Examination Manual

This manual is designed to serve the needs of the Trade-marks Office, specifically, staff in the Examination Section. It incorporates the interpretation of provisions of the Trade-marks Act and the Trade-marks Regulations (1996) by the Courts and should therefore reduce the time needed to process applications by clarifying the statutory guidelines necessary to examine them.

Trade-marks Examination Manual  [PDF 993KB]
September 1996


Amendments to the Examination Manual

These practice notices are intended to provide guidance on current Trade-marks Office practice and interpretation of relevant legislation. However, in the event of any inconsistency between these notices and the applicable legislation, the legislation must be followed.

2005-05-19Entitlement - Confusing Marks
2005-02-16Paragraph 12(1)(b): "Sounded" Test Applied to Composite Marks Which Include Words That Are the Dominant Feature of the Mark
2001-11-21   Registrar May Receive Electronic Correspondence
2001-05-03Examination Procedures Paragraph 30(a) of the Trade-marks Act
2001-03-07Entitlement - Confusing Marks
2000-10-04Improving Data Quality Trade-mark Applications
2000-08-16Paragraph 12 (1)(a) of the Act - Name or Surname
2000-06-07Priority Claims - Requirements for Country, Date and Number
2000-02-23Requests for Expedited Examination
1999-09-01Compliance with Section 4 and Paragraph 30(a) Advertising, Marketing and Promotional Services
1999-09-01Descriptiveness and Terms Such as .com, .ca, .fr, .uk & .us
1999-03-10Compliance with Paragraph 30(h) - Marks in a Special Form
1999-03-10Procedures at Time of Filing
1999-03-10Public Authority Status under Sub-paragraph 9(1)(n)(Iii)
1998-07-15Certification Marks - Compliance with Paragraph 30(f)
1998-07-15Extensions of Time in Examination
Last Modified: 2005-05-25 Top of Page Important Notices