Hello everyone! Thank you kindly for stopping by the Pythor Comics Blog! Canadian Crusader says hello too!
I just wanted to chew the fat with you for awhile about the topic of Trademarks.
Did you happen to know that "Canadian Crusader" is a registered trademark? Ya, it is, isn't that something else! It's been registered since 2017... by me! That's right, I own the trademark "Canadian Crusader"!
It's really easy to learn about such things these days, all you have to do is visit the Canadian Intellectual Property Office website to do a trademark search at this link: Search - Canadian Trademarks Database
Yes! That's just how easy it is! Amazing how the internet works these days isn't it? It's just like it was back in the late 1990's only 100 times faster! Today there's no dialup tone, just quick access to search for any registered trademark. Such registered trademarks obviously shouldn't be used unless you have authorization from the trademark owner.
Just FYI, in regards to Canadian Crusader, I have not given anyone permission to use my trademark. That means nobody should be using it. If you are using it, you need to stop using it right now before you end up on my radar. It's unfortunate, but some people like to push the boundaries and see what they can get away with, as though the law doesn't apply to them. Trust me, the law applies to everyone, and I will come for you if you infringe on my trademark.
I don't like to do that, but will protect my trademark, and I have. I see it as a matter of respect. If you're not going to respect my legal rights as an artist, then I will have no remorse about passing your name along to my lawyer.
Did you know that it takes four years to register a trademark in Canada? Yep, it does! And I've been there done that! I started the filing for "Canadian Crusader" in 2013 and it was completed in 2017! That's eight years ago!
Or to put it another way, say for example someone in 2017 right up until present day wanted to sell a product or service, and they wanted that product or service to feature the name "Canadian Crusader".... well, under Canadian intellectual property law that would be considered stealing because the name is now registered so you can't use it! That's the idea of registering a trademark. It lets others know that the name Canadian Crusader is not available because it's registered!
So if you're going to go into business of any kind, and you don't want to look like, oh I dunno, an unprofessional moron let's say, you really should take a few minutes to read up about trademarks so that you understand them. And wouldn't you know it, the CIPO website has all of that type of info available online too, absolutely free! Here is the link: Trademarks guide
I understand that for some people clicking on a link is far too much work, so here is an easy to read quote from the CIPO website that explains what a trademark is:
"What is a trademark? A trademark is a sign or combination of signs used or proposed to be used by a person to distinguish their goods or services from those of others."
Here is another quote that I like: "Registering your trademark gives you legal title to it, the way a deed gives you title to a piece of property."
Something else that is important to know about my use of the name "Canadian Crusader" is that I also have it registered under copyright protection as well, in the form of the book "Canadian Crusader: Heroes Past and Present" which I published in 2019 and registered in 2022. I also registered my original drawing of Canadian Crusader in 2011, which I created wayyyyyyyyyy back circa 1989. So I don't just have the name Canadian Crusader protected by trademark registration, I also have copyright protection as well! Isn't that neat!!!
I don't want to brag or anything, but I've been using the name Canadian Crusader for a very long time and have numerous registered copyright examples proving that fact. I also have several newspaper articles from long ago in which I was interviewed about my creative work, and Canadian Crusader is mentioned as being one of my characters. So despite the fact that my character isn't as popular as those you see in movies or TV, I none the less have a vastly huge resource of practical archival evidence to demonstrate my long, long history using the name Canadian Crusader which I could, for example, show an intellectual property judge in court if there were any particular reason that I would need to do so.
All of this to say that it's really not worth using a registered trademark without permission, especially not "Canadian Crusader", because it would just end up being a costly and embarrassing error in the long run, which is easily avoided by a professional business person if one does their due diligence in the first place.
If you think about it really, only a complete idiot would try to steal a registered trademark! I mean, not only is it such an unprofessional and shameful thing to do, it's quite indefensible! I mean, of you want to give me your money, I'll take it! Only it won't be up to you how much I'm going to take, that will be up to the intellectual property judge.
Well, now you know all about trademarks and a little bit about copyright as well. I hope you feel that you learned something important today. And who knows, if you are wise enough, it just might help keep you out of court in the future! Have a good evening everyone! And happy trademark searching to one and all!
-Mikey Artelle
Creator of Canadian Crusader
Posted Feb 25, 2025