Big retailers face new language rules in Quebec

[oneh2obabe]

Some of the world's largest retailers are fighting for the right to keep their identity intact after Quebec's French-language watchdog demanded they rework their brand names to fit the French-language charter.

Costco, Best Buy, Gap, Old Navy, Guess and Wal-Mart have asked Quebec's superior court whether the Office Québécois de la langue française (OQLF) has the right to demand such changes to their trademarks.

The OQLF wants businesses to add French generics to their trademark, something many other retailers have done in recent years after solid crackdowns by French-language authorities.

French generics can be terms to help describe the service or product sold by the retailer or descriptive terms added under a trademark name. For example, the Second Cup coffee chain recently added "les cafés" before its name in order to comply with language laws.

Nathalie St-Pierre, vice-president of the Quebec Retail Council of Canada, said the businesses believed they were in compliance with the law for the last 20 years but were surprised by the OQLF's warning.

She said the issue is the way the French-language watchdog applies its requirements to different retailers on a case-by-case basis.

"The issue is how do we go about doing this and do we have rules that are clear and that are applicable to all in the same manner, which is not the case currently," said St-Pierre.

St-Pierre said the OQLF should consider applying solid rules rather than demanding particular changes to different stores.

She said infractions can cost businesses between $3,000 and $20,000 in fines and repeat offenders can be charged even more.

Stores could also see their certificate of francisation confiscated — the certificate that confirms the work environment abides to current provincial language rules.

According to a news release issued by the OQLF in August 2011, French-language officials will not force businesses to translate their names, but would rather demand they add French slogans or descriptive titles to their current titles.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/ ... anies.html

[Bsuds]

Maybe they should just close their doors in Quebec.

[oneh2obabe]

Imagine how many people will be out of work if those 6 decide to close up shop. What gives the OQLF the right to demand changes to company names, which I'm sure are all trade-marked, when those same companies are doing advertising, hiring, etc. following the language laws?

[Bsuds]

It is getting to the point of ridiculous.

[westbankkid]

What do you expect from Quebec? They are all a bunch of rednecks. They should be applying the law evenly across Canada. If you want an English or French sign it should be the company's choice. We need a law that unless the Province is more than 15% French, English can be the only language on packaging.

[Captain Awesome]

Imagine how many people will be out of work if those 6 decide to close up shop.

Let's be real - none would ever close the shops over it.

[oneh2obabe]

Of course they won't close up shop ... that's why I said "*imagine" if they did.

[twobits]

This is just so stupid. What they are in essence saying is that Quebecors are just too plain stupid to know what some of North America's largest trademark names are without an accompanying french phrase. Is there anyone in North America that does not know what Walmart or Costco sells? Apparently the quebecois are too stupid and need a french footnote.

Les department stores du WALLMART

Am sure that will end their confusion

[waynetyea]

give them *bleep* for tat... make french signs and names be changed over to english till they remove thier stupid lang. laws...

[French Castanut]

A lot of the names then don't comply... So here's my idea:

-Tim Hortons - Like, do we really have to say they serve coffee?

-Loblaws - Lobelâ, Votre épicier

-Dunkin DOnut - Les beignes de Dunkin This one have been in business for over a millennium in Quebec and EVERYONE knows they serve donuts. Doh. -

-Canadian TIre - Les Pneus Canadiens?

-Hart, pas cher pas cher.

-Wal Mart - Le Magasin de Wal

-Target - La Cible (Right, this one won't be present in QC)

-Costco - Coopérative Coûteuse

- Best Buy - Meilleur Achat

- Gap - La craque

-Old Navy - Vieux Marin

-Guess - Devine

-American Apparel - Appareillage Américain

-Apple - Pomme

-Banana Republic - La république de bananes

-Bell Canada - La Cloche canadienne

-Starbucks - Monnaie étoilée

-Fairweather - Météo équitable

-Sears - Cire

-Subway - La voie sous-marine

-Telus - Téléphonez-nous!

-Virgin Mobile - La vierge mobile

-San Francisco - Saint-Francis

-Payless ShoeSource - La source qui vous fait payer moins pour vos chaussures

-Winners - Saucisse

[LoneWolf_53]

Maybe they should just close their doors in Quebec.

Or have the French language watch dog neutered, something I could certainly support.

A lot of the names then don't comply... So here's my idea:



- Gap - La craque

La crack, I love it.

My favorite by far.

[French Castanut]

La crack, I love it.

My favorite by far.

[grammafreddy]

How totally ridiculous.

[Snarf]

this is sooooo la stupid.....
Don't they have bigger fish to fry?

[Roadster]

Its like they are whining a disability,,, We cant read english!!!

Wa wa wahhhhh.

I hope all them stores close up. Those names are registered and are legal names that fit with their ideas and their accounting and legalities and their,,, well ya, it was bad enough we had to carry french labeling here outside of their borders and now companies that are not French based must look like they are. Are they getting closer to their separation thing yet?
I was there many years back and of the two years planned stay for work, I left after nine months, was it ever nice kissing that place good bye with my butt cheeks and a little wind
I didnt stop either,,, right to the westest of the west,,,, BC. My work place asked where I would like to be and I pointed west, they didnt even question it. Man I love it here.