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Over the past month, CIPO issued an average of 1,280 trademark refusals per week. 280 refusals fell under Sections 12(d) and 37(c), generating 610 cited marks within. We are happy to share a full weekly report as a sample (image below), for anyone that’s interested. Towergate Informatics compiles this data weekly as part of ongoing citation analysis, which can truly benefit any Canadian IP practice with actionable information, similar to the 2(d) Citation Watch for US data that we pioneered back in 2011.

Here’s another insightful view of data on Madrid Refusals that we collect and disseminate weekly. Thinking strategically about how this data may potentially be useful to develop your practice can be a worthwhile exercise. Note: The chart is interactive and can be resorted by clicking on the column headings. Click on the % Refusals column to sort the chart from a high number of refusals (top-Canada) to low (bottom-European Union). The percentage refused from each of the following countries tells one story; about where the relative volume of refusals (or the relative chance of being refused) is lesser or greater, for whatever reason. However, what may be even more illuminating is the percentage of refusals based solely on Absolute grounds (click on the last column to sort). Refusals based on Absolute grounds essentially mean that there is something problematic with the application itself, as opposed to a confusion-related issue with another registration. What is clear is that refusals based on Absolute grounds have little relationship to the overall volume or the percentage of refusals within a given country (if you sort by % Refused this becomes even more clear). Canada, for example, has a very high level of overall refusals, yet a relatively low number of Absolute refusals. Likewise for Japan. Alternatively, China and India, with similar high percentages of overall refusals, have many times the number of Absolute refusals. Likewise for Israel. What can account for such diverse results based on Absolute grounds? Our Madrid Refusal Watch provides key insights into international filings each week, which can assist your practice to develop its business. Gain an inside advantage on foreign associates or owners who may need your assistance, whether they are filing within your jurisdiction from abroad, or filing abroad from within your country. Our data can pinpoint either target of your interest and streamline your lead generation process. Please contact us for more information or to get started. Here’s a sample report of refusals from abroad filed into Canada. Our weekly report also includes a separate list of email contacts from each of the representative firms and attorneys in that week’s report, so that you can easily and efficiently communicate with them. Sample refusal report

Here are compiled stats from 2022 of Refusals as a percentage of Designation by Registration under Madrid, using the UK as an example. Is it surprising which countries exhibit the best/worst track records in relation to the percentage of refusals received to filings made? More than a quarter of all refusals had come from the US, yet this represented a rate of refusal of just above 15%. Amongst other countries, there is long tail ranging from one to a few refusals, and up to a couple dozen each; and about 20 countries with several hundred refusals each. Sweden being the only Top 10 country in terms of overall filings into the UK but with less than one thousand refusals, equating to a low rate of refusal of just 5.3%. Analyzing Madrid refusal data can help practices develop relationships with foreign associates and with companies filing into their jurisdiction. For further details about this type of list or to generate similar reports, or to receive a regular data feed for refusals from any Madrid jurisdiction to assist your practice, please contact us.  info@towergatesoftware.com

The chart below shows the Top 10 correspondents in 2022 representing plaintiffs (worldwide) in Opposition filings. As a comparison, the number of similar oppositions filed for each firm in 2021 is also noted, together with each firm’s ranking in 2021. For further information about the complete list of Firms or about our data-as-a-service, please contact us or use our form below: The chart below shows the Top 10 correspondents in 2022 representing defendants  (worldwide) in Opposition filings. As a comparison, the number of similar oppositions defended for each firm in 2021 is also noted, together with each firm’s ranking in 2021