Patent Considerations in View of the Nearshoring Trends to the Americas
No Password Required: Education Lead at Semgrep and Former Czar for Canada’s Election Security
4 Key Takeaways | Major U.S. Supreme Court Trademark & Copyright Decisions
Hidden Traffic : New Human Trafficking and Child Labor Regulation in Canada with Sean Stephenson
[Podcast] Catching Up on Canadian Environmental Regulation
[Podcast] USMCA in Review, with C.J. Mahoney, Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative
Episode 4 - USMCA and the trade relationship between the U.S.A, Mexico, & China
Five Questions, Five Answers: Electric Mobility Canada on Its Promises for a Cleaner Economy
Five Questions, Five Answers: The Voice of Canadian Automotive Parts Manufacturers
The Great Green North: A Discussion on Canada’s Environmental Regulations
Blakes Continuity Podcast: Cutting Through the Weeds: A Look at Environmental Issues Impacting Businesses
Balado continuité – Environnement : nouveautés du régime d’autorisation québécois
Blakes Continuity Podcast: What to Expect When Insolvency Crosses the Border
Infrastructure and Indigenous Engagement
A Way Forward: Energy Industry Ready to Fuel Canada's Recovery
Blakes Continuity Podcast: The Moving Landscape of Foreign Investments
Blakes Continuity Podcast: COVID-19: The Regulatory Impact on Pensions
Employment and Labour in the Time of COVID-19
Nota Bene Episode 70: Examining the USMCA: Is it Simply a Rebranded NAFTA? with Scott Maberry
This Week in FCPA-Episode 96, 2018 - the Opening Day edition
“Scandal is gossip made tedious by morality.”- O Wilde - In crafting Valley of Mother of God Gin, the founders of Foxglove Spirits, Malcolm Roberts and Shelly Perry, drew inspiration from the lush forests and fields...more
Formally known as prohibited marks, official marks are a distinctive feature of Canadian trademark law, providing government entities with an exclusive and powerful tool to protect their marks, symbols and emblems. Private...more
The College of Patent Agents & Trademark Agents (CPATA) recently issued an alert regarding a surge in fraudulent emails targeting trademark owners. As is typical of these “phishing” scams, the emails often pressure recipients...more
As discussed in my short article of July 10, 2024, important changes to the Canadian Trademark Regulations have been proposed. The changes have not yet come into effect and are still subject to change. The consultation period...more
On June 8, 2024, proposed amendments to Canada’s Trademarks Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette. The public consultation period is open until July 8, 2024, and comments will be posted on the Canada Gazette...more
Le 26 juin 2024, le gouvernement du Québec a publié la version modifiée de son règlement relatif à l’application des obligations en matière de langue française dans le contexte du commerce et des affaires. L’édiction du...more
On June 26, 2024, the Quebec government amended its regulation relating to the application of Quebec’s language legislation in the context of commerce and business. The adoption of this Regulation to amend mainly the...more
The author of the lyrics for Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” probably didn’t have trademarks in mind when he wrote “we stand on guard for thee.” But a recent trademark infringement win for a Maryland-based U.S....more
Survey evidence can be used in trademark disputes to establish consumer perception and brand power. A recent Federal Court decision provides guidance on factors that may influence the admissibility of online survey evidence....more
In 2023, the Federal Court of Canada released its decision in Energizer Brands, LLC and Energizer Canada Inc. v. Gillette Company (2023 FC 804). The decision clarifies some of the laws applicable to comparative advertising in...more
Pour de nombreuses entreprises en démarrage et en expansion, la propriété intellectuelle (« PI ») est une composante cruciale de leur avantage concurrentiel et, par conséquent, est essentielle à leur succès global et à leur...more
On January 1, 2024, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) introduced significant increases to the government fees it levies on actions before the Canadian Trademarks Office, including fee increases of over 30% for...more
For many startups and scaleups, intellectual property (IP) is crucial to the company’s competitive advantage and, therefore, its overall success and value. This bulletin provides a refresher on the common categories of IP in...more
A recent Canadian decision illustrates how powerful interlocutory injunctions can be for trademark owners involved in trademark infringement litigation in Canada. On January 2, 2024, in Amer Sports Canada Inc v Adidas Canada...more
In a decision dated January 24, 2024, Justice Pallotta allowed Novartis’ application, finding that Biogen and Samsung’s use of the trademark BYOOVIZ in association with an ophthalmologic drug violates Novartis’ rights in its...more
Online takedowns are an essential and effective tool for intellectual property rightsholders. Such tools are a common response to infringement on online marketplaces. A recent Canadian decision highlights the risks associated...more
The Quebec Charter of the French Language (the “Charter”) was adopted nearly 50 years ago to protect the status of the French language in the province of Quebec. It includes many rules, several of them directed at the...more
2023 was an active year in Canadian trademark law. Canadian Courts addressed a wide range of issues, from licensing to comparative advertising to co-branding. Notable changes also emerged from the Canadian Trademarks...more
Amendments to the Charter of French Language (Charter) scheduled to come into force on June 1, 2025 will have major implications on trademark owners doing business in Quebec, Canada. This doesn’t just impact Canadian...more
Speakers: Kwan T Loh, Olivier Jean-Lévesque, Nora Labbancz, Reagan Seidler In this webinar, Smart & Biggar's Trademarks team will provide a roundup of Canadian IP law by highlighting some of the most important new laws,...more
Trying some healthy habits in 2024? Your trademarks want you to do the same! A trademark has value when it is distinct and enforceable. Even registered marks can lose value if proper “trademark hygiene” is not followed...more
Canada has emerged as a popular jurisdiction for trademark designations under the Madrid Protocol, a global system facilitating streamlined protection of marks across multiple countries. According to WIPO’s Madrid Yearly...more
Kilpatrick partner Ted Davis spoke recently at the annual meeting of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada concerning recent trademark decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States....more
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has announced that as of December 1, 2023, updates to the Practice Notices for trademark opposition proceedings and section 45 (non-use cancellation) proceedings will come into...more
Earlier this year, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) announced that it will increase its official fees on January 1, 2024. Earlier this summer, we wrote about the impact on patent fees, which are increasing by...more