Canadian Patent Updates

Canadian Patent Updates Monday, April 30, 2018 On April 26th, the Government of Canada released their Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy which aims to: increase IP awareness, namely among Canadian businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators and also amongst the indigenous community; provide tools to support Canadian businesses in learning about and acquiring IP; and, amend IP legislation to clarify acceptable practices and prevent misuses of IP rights. Some of these changes to legislation include: Requiring that a trademark be used within the first three...

September 25, 2017
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Canadian Trademark Updates

On April 26th, the Government of Canada released their Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy which aims to: increase IP awareness, namely among Canadian businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators and also amongst the indigenous community; provide tools to support Canadian businesses in learning about and acquiring IP; and, amend IP legislation to clarify acceptable practices and prevent misuses of IP rights. Some of these changes to legislation include: Requiring that a trademark be used within the first three years after registration in order...

February 14, 2017
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Firm Announcement

I am pleased to announce and welcome Tanner Hukezalie as a new Shareholder (Partner) of the firm. Tanner Hukezalie Tanner joined the firm in June of 2007.  He wrote and successfully passed the Canadian Patent Agent’s Exams held in April of 2009.  He was one of four successful candidates that year who wrote all four patent agent exams for the first time and passed all four exams.  Tanner is also a US Patent Agent. At the firm, Tanner is the team leader of the...

July 27, 2015
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Commentary – Amendments to Canadian Patent Act – Bill C-34

On December 16, 2014, Bill C-34 received Royal Assent.  This bill includes amendments to the Canadian Patent Act.  The purpose of many of the amendments to the Patent Act is to align Canadian patent law with the Patent Law Treaty (PLT) done at Geneva on June 1, 2000. Currently, new Regulations are being drafted to support the amendments to the Patent Act.  Once these Regulations are in place, the Act will come into force.  One might expect to the see the...

January 11, 2015
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Corporate/Commercial Law Practices with Virtual Patent/Trademark Agents

A Canadian law practice, small or large, with corporate commercial lawyers may not have the resources to have its own in-house patent and/or trademark agent(s).  This is where a virtual Patent and Trademark Agent firm can assist such a law firm. A Patent and Trademark Agent firm that specializes in acquiring patents and trademarks in Canada and abroad is in a good position to support your law firm in servicing the intellectual property needs of your corporate and commercial clients.  A...

July 29, 2014
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Bill C-31 as it relates to the Trademarks Act

The Good...  The Bad...  and The Ugly The Good... While there are several good amendments made by the Bill to the Trademarks Act,  one significant positive change is the broader definition given to a trademark.  The amended definition of a trademark is for a sign or combination of signs which include a word, a personal name, a design, a letter, a numeral, a colour, a figurative element, a three-dimensional shape, a hologram, a moving image, a mode of packaging goods, a sound,...

June 19, 2014
By News, Trademarks, Use
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Canadian Patent Litigation Costs

Costs play an important role for business when making decisions to file and prosecute patent applications through to the grant of patents.  These costs can run into the 10’s of thousands of dollars for protection in one or more countries.  But the cost of obtaining protection sometimes pales in comparison to the cost of patent litigation. In the Federal Court of Canada supplemental reasons for judgment between ABB Technology AG and Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (2013 FC 1050 - October...

October 22, 2013
By News, Patents
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Canadian Patent Agent Exams 2012

The Canadian Patent Agent Exams are very challenging to pass in one or more sittings.  The Exams are written once a year, usually in April and comprise four, four hour exams, written in four consecutive days.  The first paper requires evaluation of an invention, prior art and the drafting of a complete patent application (all in 4 hours).  The other three papers have a major question each relating one of an infringement opinion, a validity opinion and a response to...

July 15, 2013
By News, Patents
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Ray’s Favorite Inventor

The First Inventor to Receive a Patent? Filippo Brunelleschi - 1377-1446 - trained as a goldsmith in Florence, is principally known for his eventual work as a structural engineer and architect. At the end of the 13th century a decision was made by the governing body of Florence to construct a new cathedral – Santa Maria del Fiore. Construction commenced in the mid 1300s after instructions to the architect to incorporate a great octagon to support a dome. By the early...

June 23, 2013
By Inventors, News, Patents
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Patents & Trademarks