Ownd — Official Process Guide

Your trademark,
step by step.

Six clear steps from your first conversation to a Certificate of Registration. No lawyers, no jargon — just a process that works.

18–24 months filing to ®
92% first-time approval
10 years of protection
1
Gather
Day 1
2
Search
Day 1–2
3
File
Same day
4
Review
12–18 mo
5
Opposition
2 months
6
Registered
18–24 mo
The full process

From hello to ®

We handle the heavy lifting. You stay informed and in control at every stage.

01
Step 1
Information Gathering
Day 1

We collect everything we need to get you started. Quick and painless — most clients wrap this up in under 15 minutes.

What we need from you
  • Your full legal business name
  • Your trading name / brand name
  • Your logo or wordmark (if applicable)
  • A brief description of your products or services
02
Step 2
Trademark Search & Clearance

We search the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) trademark database to confirm no one already holds a mark too similar to yours. We handle this entirely — you don't need to touch the database.

i This clearance step protects you from future legal challenges and lets us flag conflicts before you spend a dollar on filing.
03
Step 3
Application Filed with CIPO
Same day

We prepare and submit your application to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office the same day. Your trademark is now officially pending with an established filing date — which determines your priority if a conflict ever arises.

What we need from you
  • Signed authority for us to act on your behalf
  • Payment of government filing fees
04
Step 4
Government Review
12–18 months

CIPO examines your application to confirm your trademark is distinctive, not confusingly similar to existing marks, and not misleading or prohibited under the Trademarks Act.

i The government reviews your application over 7 months, then the public gets 2 months to challenge it. After a full year without challenges, you earn the right to use the ® symbol — the Certificate of Registration.
✓
Approved
CIPO accepts the application and moves it forward to the public opposition window.
!
Objection Raised
CIPO flags an issue. We respond and argue your case on your behalf. Very common — it doesn't mean the process is over.
05
Step 5
Public Opposition Window
2 months

Once CIPO approves your application, it is published in the Canadian Trademarks Journal. During this 2-month window, any third party who believes your trademark conflicts with theirs may file a formal opposition.

i If nobody opposes during this period, your application moves straight to registration. In the rare case of an opposition, we guide you through the full response process.
06
Step 6
Registration Granted
18–24 months after filing

Your trademark is officially registered with CIPO. You receive a Certificate of Registration and the exclusive right to use the ® symbol anywhere in Canada.

i Your trademark is protected for 10 years from the registration date and can be renewed indefinitely — keeping your brand exclusively yours for as long as your business runs.
®
You're officially protected.

Your Certificate of Registration is on file with CIPO. No one else can use your trademark in Canada without your permission.

Protected for 10 years Renewable forever Valid across Canada

Your name is worth owning.

Run a free availability search right now — takes about ten seconds and could save you years of trouble.

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