November 2009

VANOC Unravels Cowichan Sweater Trade-mark Tangle

By In Branding

Members of the Cowichan Tribes had the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) tied up in knots recently when it accused VANOC of stealing the Cowichan’s traditional sweater design, popularly known as the “Cowichan Sweater”. VANOC had initially asked the Cowichan Tribes to bid on the contract to supply the sweater (which is part of the Team Canada uniform) but chose instead to give the contract to an outside supplier over concerns regarding the Cowichan’s ability to deliver sufficient quantities in the required timeframe.

The Cowichan decried the move, which they saw as an infringement of their well known design. Olympic torch-relay protests were planned, but tensions quickly unravelled when VANOC and the Bay offered the Cowichan a license deal for their sweaters. As a result of these negotiations, Cowichan-made sweaters will now be available at the Bay. Cowichan knitters will be licensed suppliers to the Olympics and will be entitled to display the Olympic logos alongside Cowichan trade-marks.

The Cowichan Band Council owns several trade-marks relating to the Cowichan brand, including both Official Marks and Certification Marks. Read more

Proving a Trademark Licence

By In Case Law, Protection & Enforcement, Trademark Oppositions

3082833 Nova Scotia Company v. Lang Michener LLP and Registrar of Trade-marks illustrates the importance of providing evidence of any licences in place when confronted with a summary expungement under section 45 of the Trademarks Act:  an evidentiary burden that is not difficult to meet.

3082833 Nova Scotia Company (“3082”) owned the registered mark ENTRE NOUS for use in association with “telecommunication services, namely long distrance telephone services”.  The mark was originally owned and used by 3362426 Canada Inc. (“3362”) carrying on business as Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. (“PTC”).  3082 acquired the mark in the course of a reorganization and the mark was used by PTC, which had become 3082’s wholly owned subsidiary.

In response to a section 45 summary expungement, 3082 put forward invoices issued by PTC as evidence of use, but the Registrar concluded that they only referred to “Primus Canada” and there was no evidence that 3362 or 3082 had used the mark and no evidence of a licence. Read more

BTO Members Taking Care of Legal Business

By In Case Law, Protection & Enforcement

Fans of the 70’s Canadian super group, Bachman Turner Overdrive (also commonly known as BTO), may have noted the report of a legal dispute between current and former band members over the rights to the band’s trademarks.  The mark BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE  is the subject of two registrations in the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and there are several pending applications for similar marks. 

While disputes between ex-band mates are not unusual, this one has an added twist in that it pits one brother (Randy Bachman, widely considered the most talented member) versus another (Robbie).

While this appears to be primarily a contractual dispute, the trademark issues are front and centre and serve to highlight the value of branding to musical groups, both during their heydey and into later years when remaining members (and often non-members) continue to live off the avails of a group’s prior glories.

Perhaps one day someone will turn this family feud into a Broadway musical – “Peg Boys” might be a nice nod to the Winnipeg roots of the band.