What's in a Name?
Using trade-marks as a business tool
What's in a Name? (PDF – 424 KB – 1 page)
Stand Out!
In today's competitive global marketplace, your brand can become one of your most valuable assets.
Company name, business name, and trade-mark: What's the difference?
Company name
Legal name, registered provincially or federally.
Example: "Research In Motion Limited"
Business name
Name under which you conduct your business.
Example: "Research In Motion"
Trade-mark
Word(s), design, or combination of these, used to identify the goods or services of one person or organization.
Example: (registered trade-mark # TMA659946)
Did you know?
If you registered a company name or a business name, it is highly recommended to get a trade-mark registration in order to protect your brand.
Why register your trade-mark?
Registration is the best way to protect your trade-mark's value in Canada.
- It provides proof of ownership.
- It allows you to flag an infringement under the Trade-marks Act.
- It provides you with exclusive rights across Canada for 15 years and may be renewed indefinitely.
- It prevents others from using a confusingly similar trade-mark.
- It facilitates licensing your trade-mark.
Trade-marks are a valuable asset
| Canadian brands | (in billions of dollars) |
|---|---|
| Thomson Reuters | 9.3 |
| TD | 6.7 |
| RBC | 6.1 |
| BlackBerry | 6.0 |
| Pharmaprix / Shoppers Drug Mart | 3.4 |
| Tim Hortons | 2.6 |
| Bell | 2.5 |
| Rogers | 2.3 |
| Scotia | 2.1 |
| BMO | 2.0 |
| Canadian Tire | 1.9 |
Source : Interbrand Canada 2010
The Canadian Trade-marks Database is a useful tool when searching for a trade-mark.
Going international?
If you are planning to sell your goods or services in other countries, you should consider registering your trade-mark for each of those countries.
Licensing
A license is a contract between a trade-mark owner and a licensee for its use.
If you are considering licensing, it is important that a trade-mark licensing agreement be structured and monitored in order to ensure that the trade-mark does not lose its distinctiveness.
What next?
Disclaimer: BlackBerry®, RIM®, Research In Motion® and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in Canada, the U.S. and countries around the world. Used under license from Research In Motion Limited.
