SkyChoice Communications is challenging Bell Canada’s FIBE trademark in Federal Court, maintaining it’s impeding independent ISPs from using the word “fiber” in their marketing and branding.
The Oakville, ON-headquartered internet, TV and home phone provider says the FIBE trademark lacks distinctiveness with only a one letter difference between FIBE and FIBER. Canadian trademark regulations generally prohibit registration of marks which can be confused with common words.
“Independent ISPs are already operating at a competitive disadvantage largely due to restricted or cost prohibitive access to incumbent fiber optic facilities in Canada, which has some of the world’s most expensive internet prices.” said SkyChoice CEO Serge Cormier, in a press release.
To fund the significant costs of the legal challenge, SkyChoice has teamed up with Freedom Fibers, a grassroots organization dedicated to improving internet affordability and raise awareness of the high wholesale access costs charged by incumbent providers for mandated access of their last mile fiber facilities. Freedom Fibers has set up a GoFundMe to support the SkyChoice legal effort.
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