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...

The Patent Bargain…Canada

In the  Supreme Court decision of Teva Canada Ltd. v. Pfizer Canada Inc. 2012 SCC 60 – Nov 8, 2012 -  (Decision varied by SCC in 2013 from pronouncement that patent is not valid to “Teva has established its allegation that Canadian Patent 2,163,446 is not valid) the validity issue...

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...

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...

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...