Before you spend money on a brand name

I’m choosing a name

List your candidate names, what you plan to sell, who your customers are, where you will operate and how customers will encounter the name. Note any launch dates or commitments for packaging, signs or advertising.

Someone has objected to my name

Keep the complete demand or notice, including attachments and when and how you received it. Save dated examples of how you use the name: packaging, listings, invoices, website captures or ads. Record the changes requested, any dates mentioned and whether the sender identified specific trademark filings. Flag any formal notice or imminent deadline for prompt review.

Search for more than an exact match

Use the Canadian Trademarks Database and look at spelling variations, similar sounds and significant words on their own. Check the market too: search engines, relevant directories, social platforms and stores where customers would encounter comparable offerings. For each close result, record the name, what it is used for, where you found it and the date you checked.

Turn the findings into a decision

Mark which results look closest and why. Record any alternative names and what a change would cost. A preliminary search helps surface issues; it does not tell you whether a name is clear to use or register. A domain or social handle being available does not answer that question either.

Official references

• Canadian Intellectual Property Office: Search the Canadian Trademarks Database
• Canadian Intellectual Property Office: Basic search instructions