ROYAL ROADS FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST CANADA INVESTMENT AND SAVINGS
By Adnews Staff
Royal Roads University of Victoria, BC has filed a lawsuit against Canada Investment and Savings, the agency of the federal government that sells Canada Savings Bonds. The suit claims Canada Investment and Savings infringed Royal Roads' trademark in its advertising for Canada Savings Bonds. Royal Roads has been using the line "You Can Get There From Here" since 1999, registering it as its official mark in May 2002. Cynthia Cusinato, national media contact for Canada Investment and Savings, said the agency was using the "You Can Get There From Here" line well in advance of Royal Roads registering it. Canada Investment and Savings started using the line in 2001. She also said that the 2003 sales campaign for Canada Savings Bonds, which will run in the fall, will not use the line. The Royal Roads lawsuit calls for an injunction to prevent the government from using the mark, disposal of all materials that contain the mark and an inquiry as to damages. Canada Investment and Savings has until March 17 to file a statement of defence. In 1999, when Royal Roads began using the line, its agency of record was Copeland Communications of Victoria, BC. Its current creative agency is Trapeze Communications, also of Victoria. Advertising for Canada Investment and Savings is done by Vickers & Benson.