…that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Sure, but if you’re selling roses – or anything else for that matter – the name of your business or brand does matter.

What’s the value of a McDonald’s Restaurant franchise, if the franchisee cannot use the name ‘McDonald’s’? How valuable are the shoes made by Nike if they aren’t branded with the word ‘Nike’?

A business cannot afford to dismiss the importance and value of a name.

With respect to your brand name(s) and logo(s), registered trademarks provide the strongest protection of your intellectual property (IP) rights in Canada. It is a rare business that would not benefit immensely from trademark protection of its brand name(s) and logo(s).

In addition to protecting your IP from infringement by competitors, a registered trademark is a valuable asset your business can leverage in licensing and franchising agreements. In most cases, a registered trademark will also help increase the sale-price of your business.

Given the importance of trademark protection, it is wise to engage experienced professionals to draft and file trademark applications for your business, sooner than later. Newer businesses are often stretched for cash and it is important they address trademark matters as a priority, and budget their finances accordingly.

If you have any questions about trademarks or the trademark application process, please do not hesitate to Contact Us. You can also find more information about our intellectual property services on our website.

The preceding content is informational only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. To obtain such advice, please communicate with our offices directly.