Did you know that signage regulations in Quebec require businesses that have an English only trademarked name, to have French wording on signs and posters? The rules came into force November 24, 2016, after the Québec government announced new regulations amending the rules under the Charter of the French Language (Charter) to protect French language in the province.
How Can I Meet These Requirements?
If your business or brand has a recognized trademark that is in English only, you can use and display it. However, where a trademark is displayed in a permanent location, in a language other than French, the regulations require “sufficient presence of French” to accompany the trademark.
The “presence of French” requirement can be fulfilled by adding:
- a French generic term or a description of the products or services;
- a French slogan; or
- other information in French about the products or services offered to consumers or persons frequenting the business (excluding things such as business hours and addresses).
The regulations also do not require the additional French on signs to be predominant over the non-French sign, or even that it be the same size. However, the French signs must have permanent visibility that is similar to that of the trademark displayed, and must use the same materials and lighting as the non-French sign. The added French words must also be well-lit at night.
Walmart added “Supercentre” to their signage in Quebec to comply with the new regulations.
What Happens If We Don’t Comply?
Quebec’s Office of the French Language (OQLF) investigates conformity issues on a complaint-based system. The OQLF receives approximately 3,000 complaints a year. Fines for commercial signage non-compliance can range from $1,500 to $20,000 so it will serve you well to fully research signage regulations and ensure your business is in compliance.
Need more information about doing business in Quebec? Download our free resource. Have questions or needing help with signage translation? Contact us for support!
