File sound marks now to obtain an earlier filing date and take advantage of the upcoming changes in the filing requirements. Visual representations of the sound are currently required but under the new Act applicants will only need to file a clear and concise description, as well as an electronic recording of the sound.  Applicants filing now can avoid filing a visual representations of the sound, as it will no longer be required after June 17.

The Canadian Trademarks Office has confirmed that its electronic services, such as those relating to filings, registrations, renewals and filing statements of opposition, will be unavailable from midnight EST on June 13 until 6am EST on June 17. Contact your Gowling WLG trademark professional well before June 13 to ensure relevant items that need to be filed electronically are able to be processed before June 13 as all other correspondence must be sent by paper copy. 

We recommend any request that must be made by paper, including amended declarations of use, be filed well in advance of June 13 to ensure the request is processed before the June 17 deadline.