- How to search the Canadian Trademarks Database
- Use wildcards to catch near matches
- The French rule most people miss
- Trade name or trademark: which is your business name?
- What the database won't show you: trade names
- What happens after you apply
- Only use registered agents
- Canada only
- My advice
- Frequently asked questions
To search trademarks in Canada, use the Canadian Trademarks Database from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO): select Search trademarks, pick a search field, enter your term and select Search. It's free, and it lists active and inactive trademarks plus official and prohibited marks. Search every spelling of your name, including French versions, because CIPO's own guide says to.
The database is the starting point, not the whole answer. CIPO is upfront that trade names aren't in it at all, and those can still block your application.
How to search the Canadian Trademarks Database
- From CIPO's home page, select Search trademarks under the I want to section.
- Under Search criteria, open Select a search field. The default is All.
- Type your term into the search criteria box.
- Add any of the other search options if you want to narrow the results.
- Select Search, or Clear to start again.
As soon as CIPO receives an application, it becomes part of the public record, so pending applications show up alongside registered marks.
Use wildcards to catch near matches
| Wildcard | What it does | CIPO's example |
|---|---|---|
| * (asterisk) | Replaces a run of characters | pharm* finds pharmacy and pharmaceutical |
| ? (question mark) | Replaces a single character | organi?ation finds organization and organisation |
| * in front | Matches endings | *national finds national and international |
You can use wildcards in more than one term at once. For a brand name, run the exact word, then a wildcard version, then any obvious misspellings.
The French rule most people miss
Canada is bilingual, and so is your search. CIPO's guide says that for a word trademark you should look for all possible spellings, including in French. Its own example: if your mark is North Pole, search for North, Nord and Pole.
That's easy to miss if you work only in English. If your name has an obvious French equivalent, a French mark for the same goods can be just as much of a problem. A translation tool from our list of the best AI translators will give you the variants to try in seconds.
Trade name or trademark: which is your business name?
CIPO draws the line like this. A trade name is the name of your business. It can only be registered under the Trademarks Act if you also use it as a trademark, meaning it identifies your goods or services. Its example is an ice cream company called A.B.C. Ltd. If customers know the ice cream by that name because it's on the tubs, it can be registered. If they know it as North Pole and never think of A.B.C. Ltd., the company name is just a trade name.
CIPO adds a warning that's worth reading twice: a trademark registration may be cancelled if someone else in Canada used a similar trade name or trademark in the past. A clean database search lowers that risk, but it doesn't remove it, which is why the trade name check below matters.
What the database won't show you: trade names
Here's the catch. CIPO doesn't register trade names, so they're not in its records. But trade names are often used as trademarks even when they're not registered, and a business with an established trade name can argue it has rights in that name.
CIPO's example: your company is North Pole, and a company called South Pole has never filed anything but is known for frozen-water products. South Pole could spot your application in the Trademarks Journal and oppose it. And because trade names are recorded separately in each province, CIPO says there's no single, complete list of trade names in Canada.
So after the CIPO search, check the business registries in the provinces where you'll trade, search the web and social platforms, and if the name matters, follow CIPO's suggestion and get a registered trademark agent to search trade names for you.
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What happens after you apply
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Filing | CIPO assigns a filing date and application number once your application is complete |
| Examination | An examiner searches for confusing marks and decides if yours is registrable |
| Your response | You have 6 months from the examiner's report to respond to any concerns |
| Advertisement | Approved applications are published in the Trademarks Journal for 2 months, when anyone can oppose |
| Registration | If there's no opposition, or it's rejected, you get a certificate and your mark goes on the register |
Before advertising, the examiner runs a second, pre-publication search for anything filed in the meantime. If your application is refused, you can appeal to the Federal Court of Canada. A registration has to be renewed every 10 years.
Only use registered agents
You don't have to hire an agent, but CIPO says it's often advisable, especially for trade name searches and oppositions. Its warning is worth repeating: beware of unregistered trademark agents, who aren't authorized to represent applicants. Check anyone you hire against the public register of agents.
Canada only
A Canadian registration protects your rights in Canada only. If you'll trade in other countries, CIPO points you to international registration under the Madrid Protocol or an agent.
My advice
Shortlist 3 names, search each in CIPO with wildcards and French variants, then search provincial registries and the web for trade names before you fall for one. Only then design the logo: our guide on how to make a logo in Canva gets you a first version the same day.
Frequently asked questions
How do I do a trademark search in Canada?
Use the Canadian Trademarks Database from CIPO. Select Search trademarks, choose a search field, enter your term and select Search. It's free and lists active and inactive marks, plus official and prohibited marks.
Do I need to search French versions of my trademark in Canada?
Yes. CIPO's guide says to look for all possible spellings of a word trademark, including in French. Its example is searching North, Nord and Pole for North Pole.
Does the CIPO database include business names?
No. CIPO doesn't register trade names, so they aren't in its records, and trade names are recorded separately in each province. There's no single complete list of trade names in Canada.
How long does a Canadian trademark last?
A Canadian trademark registration must be renewed every 10 years to stay in force.
Does a Canadian trademark protect me in other countries?
No. Registering with CIPO protects your rights in Canada only. For other countries, CIPO points to international registration under the Madrid Protocol.
