Trademarks Opposition Board

The Trademarks Opposition Board (TMOB; French: Commission des oppositions des marques de commerce) is an administrative body within the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) responsible for hearing and deciding certain kinds of cases involving trademarks.[1] These include opposition proceedings to stop a trademark from being registered and section 45 proceedings to expunge (cancel) a registered trademark on the basis that it is not being used.[5][6] The TMOB also deals with objection proceedings to prevent a geographical indication from receiving protection.[7][8]

Trademarks Opposition Board
Commission des oppositions des marques de commerce

Place du Portage Phase I building (left) where the Trademarks Opposition Board headquarters are located in Gatineau, Quebec
Agency overview
TypeAdministrative tribunal
JurisdictionGovernment of Canada
HeadquartersGatineau, Quebec[1]
45.428499°N 75.712720°W / 45.428499; -75.712720
Employees29[2]
Minister responsible
Agency executives
Parent departmentInnovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Parent agencyCanadian Intellectual Property Office
WebsiteOfficial website

The TMOB is based in Gatineau, Quebec as part of the National Capital Region.[1] The current Chairperson of the Board is Martin Beliveau.[4]

In 2020, the TMOB heard, decided and provided written reasons for 146 cases.[9] Decisions of the Board can be appealed to the Federal Court of Canada.[5]

Structure

The TMOB is composed of a chairperson, members, hearing officers, and administrative support staff.[1][2] Members hear and decide opposition proceedings, section 45 proceedings, and objection proceedings;[7] meanwhile, hearing officers only make decisions in relation to section 45 proceedings.[10] Members and hearing officers receive delegated authority from the Registrar of Trademarks to make these decisions under the Trademarks Act and Trademarks Regulations.[1][7]

Members and hearing officers are part of the Public Service of Canada and they are appointed for an indeterminate term by the Public Service Commission of Canada.[7][10]

Composition

Current

NameRoleYears Active[lower-alpha 1]Jurisdiction[lower-alpha 2]Decisions[lower-alpha 3]Ref.
Andrew BeneMember2011—present 348[2][7][11]
Annie RobitailleMember2007—present
  • Opposition proceedings
  • Section 45 proceedings
  • Objection proceedings
 253[2][7][12]
Cindy R. FolzMember1996—present
  • Opposition proceedings
  • Section 45 proceedings
  • Objection proceedings
 281[2][7][13]
Gregory (G.M.) MelchinHearing Officer2019—present
  • Section 45 proceedings
 61[2][10][14]
Iana AlexovaMember2020—present
  • Opposition proceedings
  • Section 45 proceedings
  • Objection proceedings
 7[2][7][15]
Jennifer GaleanoMember2017—present
  • Opposition proceedings
  • Section 45 proceedings
  • Objection proceedings
 31[2][7][16]
Kathryn BarnettMember2008—present
  • Opposition proceedings
  • Section 45 proceedings
  • Objection proceedings
 213[2][7][17]
Martin BeliveauChairpersonN/AN/AN/A[2][4][18]
Natalie de PaulsenMember2011—present
  • Opposition proceedings
  • Section 45 proceedings
  • Objection proceedings
 159[2][7][19]
Oksana OsadchukMember2017—present
  • Opposition proceedings
  • Section 45 proceedings
  • Objection proceedings
 54[2][7][20]
Timothy StevensonMember2019—present
  • Opposition proceedings
  • Section 45 proceedings
  • Objection proceedings
 18[2][7][21]

Previous
NameRoleYears Active[lower-alpha 1]Decisions[lower-alpha 3]Ref.
Alan M. TroicukMember or Hearing Officer19841[22]
Andrea P. FlewellingMember2010—2016138[23]
Crystal LaineHearing Officer2008—20099[24]
Cynthia J. CampbellHearing Officer199712[25]
Céline TremblayMember2005—2018200[26]
Darlene H. CarreauChairperson2009—201529[27]
David J. MartinMember1990—2010533[28]
Denise Savard(Senior) Hearing Officer and Member1987—2007483[29]
Gary W. PartingtonChairperson and Hearing Officer1985—2002487[30]
Jean CarrièreHearing Officer and Member2003—2020541[31]
Jean-Pierre D'AoustSenior Hearing Officer1985—19919[32]
Jennifer McKayHearing Officer20042[33]
Jill W. BradburyHearing Officer and Member1998—2013511[34]
Lisa A. PowerActing Director20073[35]
Lisa ReynoldsMember2013—201876[36]
Lynne PelletierMember2008—201024[37]
Myer HerzigMember1991—2018383[38]
P. Heidi SprungMember2006—2012175[39]
Peter C. CookeMember1997—199820[40]
Pik-Ki FungHearing Officer and Member2009—202083[41]
Ronnie ShoreHearing Officer201011[42]
Sharon E. GroomHearing Officer19976[43]

Decisions
Main article: List of decisions of the Trademarks Opposition Board

Since 1984, the TMOB has decided more than 5,000 reported cases in total.[44] Although the number of reported cases varies from year to year, the Board decides an average of 140 cases annually. The Board makes the final decision in over 95% of trademark cases involving opposition proceedings, section 45 proceedings, and objection proceedings, with only approximately 250 cases being appealed to the Federal Court of Canada.[45]

See also

Notes
  1. Years that the member or hearing officer actively made decisions and provided written reasons for reported cases.
  2. Types of cases that the member or hearing officer has the authority to decide.
  3. Number of reported cases that the member or hearing officer decided during their tenure at the TMOB.

References
  1. "Trademarks Opposition Board". Government of Canada. 2019-08-30.
  2. "Browse Organization". Government of Canada. 2020-10-10.
  3. "Konstantinos Georgaras, interim Chief Executive Officer". Government of Canada. 2020-09-11.
  4. "Organizational structure - Canadian Intellectual Property Office". Government of Canada. 2020-01-06.
  5. "IP roadmap—Your path to trademark registration". Government of Canada. 2020-07-10.
  6. "Trademarks guide". Government of Canada. 2019-06-14.
  7. "Member of the Trademarks Opposition Board". Government of Canada. 2020-07-07.
  8. "Practice in Objection Proceedings under Section 11.13 of the Trademarks Act". Government of Canada. 2019-06-19.
  9. "Trade-marks Opposition Board—Decisions issued in 2020". CanLII.
  10. "Hearing Officer". Government of Canada. 2020-07-07.
  11. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Andrew Bene". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  12. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Annie Robitaille". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  13. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Cindy R. Folz". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  14. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Gregory Melchin". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  15. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Iana Alexova". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  16. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Jennifer Galeano". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  17. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Kathryn Barnett". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  18. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Martin Beliveau". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  19. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Natalie de Paulsen". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  20. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Oksana Osadchuk". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  21. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Timothy Stevenson". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2021-02-01.
  22. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Alan M. Troicuk". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  23. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Andrea P. Flewelling". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  24. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Crystal Laine". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  25. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Cynthia J. Campbell". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  26. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Céline Tremblay". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  27. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Darlene H. Carreau". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  28. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—David J. Martin". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  29. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Denise Savard". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  30. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Gary W. Partington". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  31. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Jean Carrière". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-08-10.
  32. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Jean-Pierre D'Aoust". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  33. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Jennifer McKay". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  34. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Jill W. Bradbury". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  35. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Lisa A. Power". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  36. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Lisa Reynolds". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  37. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Lynne Pelletier". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  38. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Myer Herzig". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  39. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—P. Heidi Sprung". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  40. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Peter C. Cooke". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  41. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Pik-Ki Fung". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-08-10.
  42. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Ronnie Shore". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  43. "Trademarks Opposition Board Decisions—Sharon E. Groom". Decisia by Lexum and Government of Canada. 2020-07-29.
  44. "Canada (Federal) - Trade-marks Opposition Board—Sort by Date: oldest". CanLII. 2020-07-28.
  45. ""Trade-marks Opposition Board" OR "Trademarks Opposition Board"; limited to: Federal Court". CanLII.
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