One new and one amended trademark practice notice were published today. A new notice clarifies the practice before CIPO as an Office of Origin when the Registrar of Trademarks is unable to certify an application for international registration (AIR) under the Madrid Protocol or one is withdrawn. An updated notice is directed to exclusionary wording in statements of goods or services.

Practice Notices:

• Certification of an Application for International Registration: “This notice is intended to clarify the practice before the Office of the Registrar of Trademarks as an Office of Origin when the Registrar of Trademarks (the Registrar) is unable to certify an application for international registration (AIR) under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks and when an applicant wishes to withdraw an AIR prior to its certification by the Registrar.”
• Exclusionary wording in statements of goods or services: “This notice is intended to clarify the practice before the Trademarks Office that would, as of the date of this notice, allow broader exclusionary wording in statements of goods or services contained in trademark applications, including Protocol applications, so long as such statements are not contrary to the Trademarks Act (the Act) or Trademarks Regulations (the Regulations).”