Louis Coallier

The Regroupement pour la commercialisation des produits de l'érable inc. is a non-profit corporation whose activities were paralyzed by internal conflicts.

The Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec applied for its dissolution and the designation of a liquidator.

The Supreme Court of Canada held that the suppletive scheme for the dissolution of legal persons set out in the Civil Code of Québec applies to a corporation constituted under Part III of the Companies Act when no specific legal scheme is applicable.

The Court upheld the dissolution and the attribution of the assets to the Fédération, but struck out the Court of Appeal's order relating to the payment of extra-judicial fees.

The appellant, owner of the famous VEUVE CLICQUOT trade-mark for champagne, sought to prevent the respondents from using the trade-name and registered trade-marks 'Cliquot' in association with their mid-priced women's clothing stores.

The appellant alleged that the respondents' use caused confusion under section 20 of the Trade-marks Act and depreciated the value of the goodwill attaching to its mark under section 22.

The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal, finding no likelihood of confusion given the significant differences in the wares and channels of trade.

The Court also dismissed the section 22 claim, holding that the appellant failed to establish that consumers would make a mental association between the clothing stores and the champagne mark, or that any such association would likely depreciate the value of the appellant's goodwill.