The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has announced that it will start accepting trademark applications this fall with goods and services classified in accordance with the Nice Classification. The Nice Classification system provides an extensive classification system of goods and services designed to simplify filing and search processes.
CIPO has also indicated that it will launch a redesigned Goods and Services Manual to aid in the selection of the appropriate classification of goods and services as well as improved search capabilities for marks filed within a particular class of goods and services.
In 2014, amendments to the Trade-marks Act in Bill C-31 adopted the Nice Classification system. Implementation of the Nice Classification is a step towards complying with Bill C-31, which is anticipated to come into force in late 2016 or early 2017.
For further information, see: http://tinyurl.com/njxjjqn.