Toronto and Vancouver Host CIPO-INTA Trademark Workshops

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and INTA joined forces to bring trademark professionals and policymakers together through two CIPO-INTA trademark workshops in Toronto and Vancouver recently. These interactive sessions provided a vital forum for constructive dialogue, allowing attendees and expert panelists to exchange practical perspectives, compare cross-border strategies, and deepen their understanding of critical issues shaping Canadian trademark examination and prosecution today. By bridging the gap between private practitioners and institutional decision-makers, the workshops fostered professional development and meaningful industry collaboration.

Inaugural Toronto Workshop: Deep Dive into Practice and Policy

The inaugural workshop in Toronto took place on October 27, 2026, and featured two expert panels addressing acquired distinctiveness and letters of consent, two important topics in Canadian trademark examination and prosecution. Discussions incorporated Canadian perspectives, comparative insights from the United States, and contributions from CIPO representatives. This combination of viewpoints provided participants with a broader understanding of the considerations involved in trademark examination and the approaches taken in different jurisdictions.

When discussing acquired distinctiveness, panelists stressed that evidentiary filings must be comprehensive yet tailored to the relevant market. Practitioners shared practical guidance for rights owners navigating distinctiveness objections, noting that CIPO examiners require concrete evidence that Canadian consumers associated the mark with a single source as of the filing date. Crucially, panelists cautioned that applicants should never assume an examiner is already familiar with all aspects of an industry.

On addressing consent and letters of consent, practitioners examined the relevant legal framework and highlighted what examiners need to see during prosecution. Practical drafting guidance focused on providing meaningful context regarding the parties’ coexistence, ensuring examiners have the necessary information to evaluate confusion from CIPO’s perspective.

The inclusion of the U.S. perspective added significant depth to both panels. Comparative analysis highlighted how rights owners can navigate jurisdictional differences when coordinating cross-border prosecution strategies.

The discussions seamlessly integrated Canadian administrative practice, comparative insights from the United States, and direct feedback from senior CIPO representatives. Highlighting the collaborative tone of the event, Mesmin Pierre, Director General of the Trademarks and Industrial Designs Branch at CIPO, remarked, “This was a great opportunity for CIPO representatives to hear from the profession and we [CIPO] are very appreciative of INTA organizing this workshop to strengthen collaboration.”

Vancouver Workshop: Continuing the Conversation

The Vancouver workshop, which took place on November 3, 2026, at lululemon’s headquarters (Store Support Center), followed the same format as the Toronto workshop, providing another opportunity for trademark professionals and members of the intellectual property (IP) community to engage with issues relevant to trademark practice. Consistent with the objectives of the CIPO-INTA initiative, the workshop encouraged professional dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and engagement among practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

As a major center for business, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Western Canada, Vancouver offered a valuable setting for conversations about the role of trademarks in protecting brands and supporting commercial activity. Bringing the trademark community together there helped foster connections across the profession and created opportunities to exchange experiences, discuss practical considerations, and explore developments in IP law and policy.

The workshop offered a constructive environment for learning and collaboration, giving attendees an opportunity to engage with relevant topics and benefit from the knowledge and experience of fellow professionals.

An Opportunity for Learning and Collaboration

Together, the Toronto and Vancouver workshops reflected the value of creating opportunities for ongoing engagement between the trademark profession and the institutions involved in shaping trademark examination and policy. By encouraging discussion across different perspectives and areas of expertise, these events contributed to a more informed and connected IP community.

For trademark agents, lawyers, brand owners, in-house counsel, and other professionals working in IP, the workshops offered valuable opportunities to strengthen professional knowledge, exchange practical insights, and build relationships with colleagues across the field.

Overall, these events represented an encouraging step toward continued collaboration between CIPO, INTA, and the broader trademark community, supporting shared learning and constructive engagement on the issues that matter to trademark professionals across Canada.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this article, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.

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