PRLog - Dec. 19, 2013 - The Bitcoin Alliance of Canada (BAC) has become aware that an applicant has applied to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) for the “BITCOIN” word mark in Canada. This application has not been granted by CIPO.
We oppose this application. Bitcoin is, on its own, purely descriptive and not distinctive, and this application covers wares and services that go to the heart of the bitcoin protocol. We don’t object to trade-marks that help consumers differentiate among competing products and that protect producers’ valuable investments in reputation. However, the word “bitcoin,” all by itself, is a word that should be left in the public domain and free to the public to use. We believe that registration of this trade-mark in Canada would potentially inhibit the ability of Canadians to use this innovative new technology, stifle innovation, and impose unnecessary costs on Canadian merchants and consumers.
No other governmental authority of which we are aware has granted a trade-mark in respect of this single word with the breadth of wares and services included in this application.
Therefore, the BAC has drafted an open letter to CIPO regarding this application. The application can be found here. We trust that CIPO will do its usual great work and seriously consider the legal standard for registration under the Trade-Marks Act. Intellectual property law should protect and foster true innovation—not become a redoubt for trolls and those trying to subvert the inventions of others.
About the Bitcoin Alliance of Canada
The BAC is dedicated: to raising awareness of bitcoin among Canadian consumers, merchants, businesses, regulators, and policy makers; to promoting bitcoin adoption in Canada; to further Canadian and international study and research in bitcoin and other virtual currencies; and, to promoting Canadian participation in international partnerships, associations, and other efforts to promote, study, research, and discuss bitcoin and other virtual currencies.
About Bitcoin
Bitcoin is a digital currency and protocol that enables instant peer-to-peer transactions and worldwide payments for almost no processing fees. Bitcoin uses technology to operate with no central authority; managing transactions and bitcoin issuance is carried out collectively by the network. Through many of its unique properties, Bitcoin allows exciting uses that cannot be covered by any previous payment systems. The software that the Bitcoin network runs on is a community-driven, free, open-source project released under the MIT license.
For more please contact the Bitcoin Alliance of Canada at (416)-831-9593, or email info@bitcoinalliance.ca
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Bitcoin Alliance of Canada Opposes "BITCOIN" Trade-mark Application
December 19, 2013 at 13:59 PM EST
