Canada's new trademark rules have been implemented, and confidentiality orders can be applied for in trademark dispute procedures

To strengthen the intellectual property protection system, the Canadian government launched the "Intellectual Property Strategy" in 2018 and amended the Trademarks Regulations. The amendment focuses on improving the efficiency of trademark dispute handling procedures and filling system loopholes.

The main changes include "penalties for malicious delays of the process by the parties", clarifying the application requirements for "evidence confidentiality orders", introducing "case management systems" and "official trademark voluntary invalidation declarations". The amendments took effect on April 1, 2025.

In order to solve the existing trademark dispute handling procedures, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has led to system loopholes, such as the malicious delay of the process by the parties when handling complex trademark disputes, resulting in the consumption and waste of trial resources. For example, in trademark opposition proceedings, parties may use strategic delays, repeatedly file divisional applications, or abuse the hearing process, which not only increases the processing costs for the parties involved but also causes a gradual backlog of cases in the Opposition Committee.