Promotional contests in Canada, which are sometimes referred to by the U.S. term “sweepstakes”, are largely governed by the federal Competition Act, Criminal Code and contract law. Other laws that can also apply, depending on the type of contest, include privacy, anti-spam law (i.e., CASL) or intellectual property law.

Given that running a promotional contest without following Canadian laws can result in civil or criminal liability, or what is often worse for promoters, adverse publicity or negative goodwill, it is important to review proposed contest rules and marketing materials for Canadian legal compliance.

Running a promotional contest in Canada typically includes the preparation of short rules (i.e., mandatory statutory disclosure for marketing materials), long rules (i.e., the full terms and conditions for the contest), winner release form, skill-testing question and review of draft creative materials (i.e., marketing materials) for advertising law compliance before launch.

For information about the Canadian contest law precedents/forms that we offer, see: Contest Forms.

For a more information about Canadian contest laws, see: Contests.

CANADIAN CONTEST AND
ADVERTISING LAW SERVICES

We are a Toronto advertising and competition law firm that offers business and individual clients efficient and strategic advice in relation to contests/sweepstakes and advertising/marketing law. We also offer competition/antitrust, Internet and new media law services.

Our experience includes advising Toronto, Canadian and U.S. clients in relation to Canadian contest/sweepstakes, advertising/marketing and competition/antitrust laws. For more information about our Canadian contest and advertising law services see: here. To contact us, see: here.

CANADIAN CONTEST RULES/PRECEDENTS

Do you need contest rules/precedents
for a Canadian contest?

We offer many types of Canadian contest/sweepstakes law precedents and forms (i.e., Canadian contest/sweepstakes law precedents for running common types of contests in Canada).  These include legal precedents for random draw contests (i.e., where winners are chosen by way of random draw), skill contests (e.g., essay, photo or other types of contests where entrants submit content to enter the contest that is judged to select winners), trip/destination contests and more.

We also offer a number of different types of specific Canadian contest/sweepstakes precedents, including short rules (“mini-rules”), long rules, a template winner release form and a Canadian contest law checklist.

For more information and to order see: Contest Forms.