The Bitcoin Alliance of Canada has made a filing with the Canadian Intellectual House Workplace opposing an attempt to trademark the word “Bitcoin” in the nation. The trademark try, filed by Neil K Adams on Dec 17, attempts to trademark the use of the term “Bitcoin” beneath, amongst other things, the categories of “computer applications and computer application for electronically trading classic currency and virtual currency”, “currency exchange solutions”, “cash management” and “financial services, namely, offering safe payment possibilities to members of an on the web neighborhood through a global laptop network by means of the use of classic currency and virtual currency”. One day following the request was filed, Stuart Hoegner, primary legal and regulatory counsel of the Alliance, created a filing with the Trademarks Opposition Board asking the CIPO not to grant the trademark. The complete text of the opposition filing reads:
The Bitcoin Alliance of Canada (BAC) has turn into aware that an applicant has applied to the Canadian Intellectual Home Workplace (CIPO) for the “BITCOIN” word mark in Canada. This application has not been granted by CIPO.
We oppose this application. Bitcoin is, on its personal, purely descriptive and not distinctive, and this application covers wares and solutions that go to the heart of the bitcoin protocol. We do not object to trade-marks that aid buyers differentiate amongst competing products and that defend producers’ valuable investments in reputation. Nonetheless, the word “bitcoin,” all by itself, is a word that should be left in the public domain and totally free to the public to use. We think that registration of this trade-mark in Canada would potentially inhibit the ability of Canadians to use this revolutionary new technologies, stifle innovation, and impose unnecessary fees on Canadian merchants and customers.
No other governmental authority of which we are conscious has granted a trade-mark in respect of this single word with the breadth of wares and services incorporated in this application.
For that reason, the BAC has drafted an open letter to CIPO concerning this application. The application can be located here [hyperlink]. We trust that CIPO will do its usual great perform and seriously consider the legal standard for registration beneath the Trade-Marks Act. Intellectual house law should shield and foster correct innovation – not turn into a redoubt for trolls and these attempting to subvert the inventions of other folks.
The BAC was formed to promote, defend, and raise awareness of bitcoin use in Canada. We will continue to function with like-minded people and organizations to help this amazing technology benefit all Canadians.
The Bitcoin Alliance of Canada has been making considerable progress in the past month since it announced its upcoming conference in April and launched its new website. The organization currently has numerous hundred members signed up, like a substantial portion of paid ($ 25 per year) and lifetime ($ 125) members, and new members are joining each and every day. Moreover, Toronto, a single of the three biggest cities in Canada in terms of Bitcoin adoption alongside Montreal and Vancouver, has lately gained its first Bitcoin-accepting restaurant: the Smoke Bourbon BBQ House west of Bathurst on Harbord Street. Amongst this, the Bitcoin Embassy’s partnership with the Bitcoin Foundation, the rising interest in Bitcoin startups building Bitcoin debit cards and point of sale terminals and the massive media attention around Bitcoin ATMs, Canada is positioning itself to turn out to be a single of the most promising places for Bitcoin adoption in 2014.
The post Bitcoin Alliance of Canada Files Opposition to Try to Trademark Bitcoin appeared 1st on Bitcoin Magazine.
Bitcoin Alliance of Canada Files Opposition to Try to Trademark Bitcoin
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