Big businesses heading to court against Quebec government over French signs
This ought to be an easy win for the Retailers. The law is clearly on their side. Brand names, Logos and Registered Trademarks are exempt from any language laws. These signs were legal for the past 35 years, and since none of the related laws have changed since, they are still legal. When dealing with registered trademarks, we are talking about international laws which provide protection for the trademark and which the language police have no control or jurisdiction over. When these retailers in their cases, it would be a good bet that other retailers will start using more English signs.
MONTREAL - Several major retailers are taking the Quebec government to court
over the provincial language watchdog's insistence they modify their commercial
brand names to include some French.
The retailers include some of the biggest brand names in North America —
Walmart, Best Buy and Costco. Their lawyers are expected in Quebec Superior
Court on Thursday.
Quebec's language watchdog, The Office Quebecois de la Langue Francaise,
wants the retailers to change their signs to either give themselves a generic
French name or add a slogan or explanation that reflects what it is they're
selling.
This ought to be an easy win for the Retailers. The law is clearly on their side. Brand names, Logos and Registered Trademarks are exempt from any language laws. These signs were legal for the past 35 years, and since none of the related laws have changed since, they are still legal. When dealing with registered trademarks, we are talking about international laws which provide protection for the trademark and which the language police have no control or jurisdiction over. When these retailers in their cases, it would be a good bet that other retailers will start using more English signs.