Canadian flag

[Scott MacLean]

Americans proudly show their flag everywhere, it appears on catalogs, web sites, TV commercials, bumper stickers, anywhere where a business is proud to show they are an American company. You may wonder why Canadian companies do not do the same. Is it because they are ashamed of their flag? No, it is because it is illegal:


Date:1/10/2002 8:17:23 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]...
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]...

Pat, this is further to our telephone conversation of January 9, 2002
regarding products identified on the Forces Canada Internet site that were
infringing on a registered trademark held by the Government of Canada.

The Canadian flag symbol is a global identifier of the Government of Canada. It
is used to identify federal institutions and is protected under the Trademarks
Act (Section 9 (1)(n)(iii) of the Act).

The flag symbol was approved and entered as an official mark of the
Government of Canada on the Trademarks Register held by the Canadian
Trademarks Office, which is part of the Canadian Intellectual Property
Office at Industry Canada,on 30 September 1987.

As discussed, there is evidence that Forces Canada Internet site is
advertising on the World Wide Web bearing the Canadian flag symbol of the
Government of Canada.

You are advised that your organization must take immediate corrective action
with respect to infringement of this trademark. In addition we require a
written undertaking to immediately cease and desist displaying the Canadian flag
symbol on the Forces Canada Internet site and all associated pubic relations
products.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Jan Ovens

613-957-2544 I [EMAIL PROTECTED]...
Facsimile/T�l�copieur : 613-946-5187
Federal Identity Program, Treasury Board of Canada
Secretariat