If you’ve recently received an email claiming someone is trying to register your brand name, take a moment to pause before you panic. These messages are part of a growing wave of trademark-related scams targeting business owners, and they’re getting more convincing by the day. Let’s break down what’s happening, how to spot the red flags, and what to do instead. ⚠️ What the Scam Looks Like You might receive an email that says something like: Another company is attempting to register your...

One of the biggest misconceptions I see among business owners is the belief that a catchy brand name automatically makes for a strong trademark. It doesn’t. In Canadian trademark law, the strength of a trademark depends largely on one thing: Distinctiveness. In other words, how uniquely your name identifies you as the source of your products or services. And not all trademarks sit at the same level on that spectrum. At the weakest end are generic terms: words that simply name the product or...

The Trademark Selection Process The strongest brands start thinking about trademark protection early. Ideally, before you’ve invested large sums of money in branding, packaging, marketing, etc. If you’re waiting until launch day to think about your trademark… we need to talk. Here’s what a smart trademark selection process looks like in Canada: 1. Brainstorm strategically (not just creatively). Build a list of potential names. But don’t just focus on what sounds good. Think about what will be...