In what it calls "a major victory," Travel Leaders Group, LLC has won the right to use the Travel Leaders trademark in Canada, following a six-year legal battle.
In a decision handed down March 8, the Federal Court of Canada determined that the Travel Leaders trademark registration, owned by an Ontario numbered company since 2011, had been abandoned and should be cancelled.
As a result of the decision, Travel Leaders Group, a division of Internova Travel Group, has filed new applications in Canada for the Travel Leaders trademark and has a pending application for the Travel Leaders Network trademark.
Out of what it calls "an abundance of caution," Travel Leaders Group says it won't adopt the trademark in Canada until the decision is final. The Ontario company has sought an extension of time to file an appeal but has failed to retain counsel and is unlikely to be allowed to proceed without counsel.
L to R: Roger Block - President of Travel Leaders Network, Christine James - Vice President of TL Network Canada; John Lovell - President, Leisure Travel, Supplier Relations & Network (L to R: Roger Block - President of Travel Leaders Network, Christine James - Vice President of TL Ne)
"We're extremely gratified by the court's decision," said Roger E. Block, President, Travel Leaders Network. "This is a tremendous win for our company. Our brand is vitally important to us, and we've invested a great deal of time and energy defending it. We've already spoken to our Canadian members, and they're excited to start using the full official Travel Leaders Network name."
A further update will follow when the appeal motion is resolved. Meanwhile, the ability to use the Travel Leaders brand name in Canada has been granted by the court in unequivocal terms.
Planning is underway to use the single Travel Leaders brand throughout North America in the future.
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