Intellectual Property

Royal Canadian Navy identifying elements

Royal Canadian Navy identifying elements, such as the examples shown, are legally protected by Government of Canada copyrights and trade-marks.

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is a proud institution with a long history in the service of Canada. The RCN’s intellectual property is a key element for its interaction with Canadians and the international community. The appropriate and legitimate uses of the RCN’s name, badges, slogans and other marks are of critical importance in maintaining the integrity of the institution’s identity and protecting the heritage and property rights of all Canadians.

The name, badges, slogans and other RCN marks are the legal intellectual property of the Department of National Defence that are protected by copyright and trade-mark laws. The use of such copyrights and trade-marks are dictated by departmental policies. The terms “Royal Canadian Navy” and “RCN” are also protected. Therefore, the use of any of the aforementioned items in a product, service or by an organization without Department of National Defence authorization is strictly prohibited.

How do I use the RCN name or other visual elements?

If you and/or your organization are interested in using the RCN name, badges, slogans or other visual identifiers protected by trade-mark or copyright, please consult the information below.

For media, fair dealing for the purpose of news reporting does not infringe copyright if the source is mentioned, however please consult the links below for assistance and clarification.

Resources