Welcome Changes to Trademark Regulations

June 20, 2007

As of June 2, 2007, the serving of Statements of Oppositions, Counter Statements and related documents may now occur by email, facsimile or other means as agreed by the parties. Welcome news to trademark practioners!

Along with permitting modern methods of serving documents, there were also substantive amendments to the regulations relating to the granting of extensions of time during opposition proceedings. Ultimately, these changes should result in fewer extensions of time being sought and to a faster opposition process. The time limit for filing a Counter Statement in response to an opposition will increase to two months, with the time limit for filing Opponent’s and Applicant’s evidence increasing to four months. The extended time limits will come into effect on October 1, 2007.