Sun World International Inc. v. Parmalat Dairy & Bakery Inc. concerned a procedural issue, namely a “novel application” to amend a Statement of Opposition to add section 22 of the Trademarks Act (depreciation of goodwill).

The respondent, Parmalat, had successfully opposed the applicant’s (Sun World’s) trademark BLACK DIAMOND for use in association with fresh fruit and vegetables, narrowed to plums. The Registrar of Trademarks concluded that use of the mark at the relevant date had not been established and that the applicant had not demonstrated there would be no reasonable likelihood of confusion. The applicant then appealed to the Federal Court pursuant to section 56 of the Trademarks Act.

Section 56(5) allows for the introduction of new evidence. On the appeal the applicant filed new evidence and the respondent in turn sought to amend the Statement of Opposition and file new evidence.

The Prothonotary hearing the matter concluded that section 56 of the Trademarks Act allowed fresh evidence on issues that were before the Registrar, but the de novo jurisdiction of the Court under section 56 was otherwise restrained. Thus, the Statement of Opposition could not be amended on appeal.

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