Business Name Protection in Canada

Our business name and the name of our products or services can become one of the most valuable assets of our company. Such names as SHARP, SONY, FORD and more could cost more than the companies that own them. This is why business name protection is extremely important and must be dealt with at the early stages of the business development.

There are various types of levels of business name registration and protection available in Canada. The list provided below moves from the least protective to the most protective types of registration.

- Ontario business name registration - Master Business License
- Provincial named incorporation
- Federal named incorporation
- Trademark

Every business owner must understand which protection (and lack thereof) each of the registrations provides. Moreover, while corporate name provides for the business name registration, trademark registers product and/or service name, not your business name.

Additionally, it must be noted that most registrations (trademark included) are valid only for the province or country of the registration. Therefore, if you plan to develop your business overseas - you must ensure that your trademark is registered there BEFORE you start your operations.

BONUS TIP!!!
Before registering your company name or applying for a trademark registration - make sure you have purchased all the domain names associated with your proposed name. If you fail to buy domain names before you apply for the registration, someone else will buy the name and will hold it ransom for you to buy it out. This practice will solve you hundreds and thousands of dollars.

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All information provided in this video is for informational and reference purpose only. Nothing contained herein shall be considered as a legal advice or instructions to be acted upon. CBES – Canadian Business and Enterprise Services does not offer legal advice online or on its YouTube channel. Please consult a professional before you act in reliance on the information contained in our videos.