Pride Toronto and Vancouver Dyke March clash over trademark applications
Posted July 20, 2015 3:08 pm.
Last Updated July 20, 2015 3:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Vancouver Dyke March organizers are outraged by Pride Toronto’s recent attempt to trademark terms commonly used by grassroots organizations.
Pride Toronto has filed a trademark application with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for the terms “Dyke March and “Trans* Pride.”
Vancouver Dyke March organizers call the move a hostile attempt to make money on merchandise that use the terms and say they will take action unless Pride Toronto withdraws the applications and apologizes.
Pride Toronto has since said it will work with lawyers to withdraw the trademark applications.
They say they initially filed the applications because an individual had threatened to file for the trademarks to gain control over the events.
Pride Toronto has a history of trademark applications, which includes successfully registering the term “pride” in 2003.
