Québec Enforces French Language Rules on Trademarks with Fines

Québec's Bill 96 and its subsequent Regulation significantly impact trademark display and language requirements, mandating that any generic or descriptive terms in English trademarks on products must also appear in French with equal prominence starting June 1, 2025. The Court of Québec recently ruled against a hotel for violating these language requirements by displaying English signage without the proper French equivalents and accents, emphasizing that French and English must be visible simultaneously on signage to comply. Internationally, the Madrid System offers a streamlined process for trademark registration across multiple countries but can be problematic in jurisdictions with strict procedural rules like China. In South Africa, trademark enforcement challenges persist in the pharmaceutical sector, highlighted by the Adcock Ingram v Cipla Medpro case, where failure to seek cancellation of a confusingly similar mark and the absence of the Registrar of Trademarks in litigation exposed systemic regulatory weaknesses. These developments underscore the increasing complexity and regional specificity of trademark law enforcement, requiring businesses to navigate both language laws and procedural nuances carefully.