On June 17, 2019 Canada acceded to the Madrid Protocol. Foreign applicants can now file a single International trademark application with the International Bureau of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and request trademark protection in Canada.
Generally, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) will issue a Courtesy Letter advising the applicant’s representative before the International Bureau of WIPO that in Canada the applicant must be represented by a person that resides in Canada and listed as a registered trademark agent in Canada. All further correspondence from CIPO will be sent directly to the applicant or to the appointed Canadian trademark agent.
In order to avoid any delay or loss of official correspondence from CIPO, we strongly recommend foreign applicants appoint a Canadian trademark agent as soon as possible to assist them during the registration process for their Canadian trademark.
