THE CANADIAN FLAG
A REGISTERED CORPORATE SYMBOL
Here is the incredible story January 9th, 2001
FORCES Canada, a pro-smoking website, receives a phone call from
the Treasury Board/Secretariat Canada who demands that FORCES
Canada cease and desist from using the Canadian flag on the FORCES
Canada site, because the Canadian Government has the trademark
on the flag, and it does not allow citizens to use it.
A written comunication on this issue is required by FORCES Canada.
January 10th - The communication is transmitted via e-mail, as shown below:
Subj:trademark infringement
Date:1/10/2002 8:17:23 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: Ovens.Jan@t...
To: forcescan2@A...
Pat, this is further to our telephone conversation of January 9, 2002 regarding products identified on the Forces Canada Internet site that were infringing on a registered trademark held by the Government of Canada.
The flag symbol is a global identifier of the Government of Canada. It is used to identify federal institutions and is protected under the Trademarks Act (Section 9 (1)(n)(iii) of the Act).
The flag symbol was approved and entered as an official mark of the Government of Canada on the Trademarks Register held by the Canadian Trademarks Office, which is part of the
Canadian Intellectual Property Office at Industry Canada,on 30 September 1987.
As discussed, there is evidence that Forces Canada Internet site is advertising on the World Wide Web bearing the flag symbol of the Government of Canada.
You are advised that your organization must take immediate corrective action with respect to infringement of this trademark. In addition we require a written undertaking to immediately cease and desist displaying the flag symbol on the Forces Canada Internet site and all associated pubic relations products.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitateto contact me.
Jan Ovens
613-957-2544 I ovens.jan@t...
Facsimile/Télécopieur : 613-946-5187
Federal Identity Program, Treasury Board of Canada
Secretariat