Trademark systems are well developed and offer robust legal protection in North America. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) handles trademark applications in Canada, whereas the USPTO handles trademark registration in the US.
Marks must be unique and unlikely to be confused with already-registered trademarks in order to pass the process. Depending on opposition or objections, registration in the United States may take 8–12 months, whereas in Canada, it may take 12–18 months. Protection is perpetually renewed and lasts for 10 years.
North American trademark systems operate primarily on a first-to-use (U.S.) or first-tofile (Canada) basis, giving an advantage to early applicants. Enforcement mechanisms are robust, with clear litigation paths for infringement.
For businesses, North America offers access to a large, high-value market with strong legal certainty, but companies must carefully prepare filings to comply with strict examination standards and properly monitor for potential conflicts across federal and state jurisdictions.