Canadian Olympic Assn. v. Usa Hockey, Inc., docket A-472-97

Date: 19991018

Docket: A-472-97

CORAM:      DESJARDINS, J.A.

         ROTHSTEIN, J.A.

         MCDONALD, J.A.

BETWEEN:

     CANADIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION

     Appellant

     (Plaintiff)

     - and -

     USA HOCKEY, INC. and

THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE-MARKS

     Respondents

     (Defendants)

Heard at Toronto, Ontario, on Monday, October 18, 1999

Judgment Delivered Orally from the Bench at Toronto, Ontario on Monday, October 18, 1999

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT BY:      DESJARDINS J.A.

Date: 19991018

Docket: A-472-97

CORAM:      DESJARDINS, J.A.

         ROTHSTEIN, J.A.

         MCDONALD, J.A.

        

BETWEEN:

     CANADIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION

     Appellant

     (Plaintiff)

     - and -

     USA HOCKEY, INC. and

THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE-MARKS

     Respondents

     (Defendants)

     REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

     (Delivered Orally from the Bench at

Toronto, Ontario on Monday, October 18, 1999)

DESJARDINS J.A.

[1]      Whether the appropriate procedure for the appellant was an appeal or an application for judicial review need not be decided. We are satisfied that the bringing of an action to challenge the implicit decision of the Registrar that the Respondents USA BASKETBALL and USA HOCKEY INC. were "public authorit[ies]" for the purposes of subparagraph 9(1)(n)(iii) of the Trade-Marks Act¹ was not the correct procedure.

[2]      It is noteworthy that the Appellant is not alleging it its Statement of Claim that the respondents have adopted any mark consisting of, or so nearly resembling as to be likely to be mistaken for, any of its marks, which is the basis for an action under subsection 9(1) of the Trade-Marks Act.

[3]      This appeal will be dismissed with costs.

[4]      These same reasons for judgment will also be filed in Docket A-471-97 since both cases were heard at the same time.

     "A. Desjardins"

     J.A.

              FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

     Names of Counsel and Solicitors of Record

DOCKETS:                      A-472-97

STYLE OF CAUSE:                  CANADIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION

Appellant

(Plaintiff)

- and -

USA HOCKEY, INC. and

THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE-MARKS

     Respondents

     (Defendants)

DATE OF HEARING:              MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1999

PLACE OF HEARING:              TORONTO, ONTARIO

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT BY:          DESJARDINS J.A.

Delivered at Toronto, Ontario

on Monday, October 18, 1999

APPEARANCES:                  Mr. Ken McKay

For the Appellant

                                    

                         Mr. David Morrow

        

For the Respondent, USA Hockey, Inc.

Ms. Tracy McManus

For the Respondent, The Registrar of Trade Marks

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:          Sim, Hughes, Ashton & McKay

Barristers & Solicitors

330 University Avenue, 6th Floor

Toronto, Ontario

M5G 1R7

For the Appellant

                                    

                         Smart & Biggar

Barristers & Solicitors

50 Metcalfe Street

Ottawa, Ontario

K1P 5Y6

For the Respondent, USA Hockey, Inc.

Mr. Morris Rosenberg

Deputy Attorney General of Canada

For the Respondent, The Registrar of Trade Marks

---

                         FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

Date: 19991018

Docket: A-472-97

                        

                         BETWEEN:

CANADIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION

Appellant

(Plaintiff)

- and -

USA HOCKEY, INC. and

THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE-MARKS

     Respondents

     (Defendants)

                        

                        

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

                        

__________________

     ¹      R.S.C. 1985 c. T-13.