moved for leave to introduce Bill C-611, an act to amend the Trade-marks Act (public authority).
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to table a bill that would amend the Trade-marks Act.
It has come to my attention from a constituent who is a small business owner, and through intellectual property experts, that official marks are at times used for commercial benefit rather than to protect public interests, as intended by the Trade-marks Act.
The bill would clarify what constitutes a public authority under section 9 of the Trade-marks Act. It would also create a review and objection process to ensure that official marks are in the public interest and do not unduly restrict the market.
I would like to thank Dr. Andrea Slane, associate professor at the University of Ontario centre for technology; and Dr. Teresa Scassa, the Canada Research Chair in Information Law, at the University of Ottawa, for their input on the bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)