Bank of Canada Trademarks ‘Digital Canadian Dollar’

The Bank of Canada has taken its first steps toward trademarking a “digital Canadian dollar,” records show. The move comes despite the central bank saying last year that its future actions on a digital dollar would be decided by voters. The Bank of Canada (BoC), in a December filing under the Trademarks Act, has claimed ownership of any “digital dollar” launched within the country. “Whether and when a digital dollar will become needed is uncertain,” the Bank said in a Nov. 29 statement. “Ultimately the decision to go ahead with a digital dollar belongs to Canadians through their representatives in Parliament.” In the Dec. 13 and Dec. 19 filings, which were first obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter, the BoC asserted ownership of the terms “digital dollar,” “digital Canadian dollar” and “central bank digital currency” in both English and French under the Trademarks Act. The Bank did not explain its reasons for the filings....