Looking forward to catching up with friends and colleagues at the CBA IP Day and Judges’ Dinner in Ottawa – please say hi if you will be there too. The day begins with a Diversity Breakfast and a Town Hall with members of the Federal Court, followed by the CBA IP Professional Development program in the afternoon and concludes with the Judges’ Dinner.
All posts by Alan Macek
Trial Management
The Federal Court issued a practice notice on trial management conferences and procedures. The guidelines identify issues to be determined at pre-trial conferences and trial management conferences as well as impose new deadlines for pre-trial steps.
Reasonable Royalties and Non-Infringing Alternatives
In a decision released earlier this year, Frac Shack Inc. v. AFD Petroleum Ltd., 2017 FC 104, the defendant was found to infringe several of the claims in a patent relating to a fuel delivery system used for hot refuelling equipment used for hydraulic fracturing. The court ordered a 27% royalty rate for sales made prior to the grant of the patent at issue and did not consider a manual process as being a non-infringing alternative. My article on this decision was published by Slaw. Continue reading Reasonable Royalties and Non-Infringing Alternatives
World IP Day
Budget
The latest budget was introduced today in parliament. Relating to intellectual property, the budget plan states:
In recognition of the importance of a well-functioning intellectual property regime, Budget 2017 announces the Government will develop a new intellectual property strategy over the coming year. The strategy will help ensure that Canada’s intellectual property regime is modern and robust and supports Canadian innovations in the 21st century.
USSC
The United States Supreme Court has issued a couple of intellectual property decisions this week:
- Star Athletica, L. L. C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc. where a majority found a feature incorporated into the design of a useful article is eligible for copyright protection only if the feature (1) can be perceived as a two- or three-dimensional work of art separate from the useful article, and (2) would qualify as a protectable pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work—either on its own or fixed in some other tangible medium of expression—if it were imagined separately from the useful article into which it is incorporated. The particular facts related to cheerleading uniforms.
- SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag v. First Quality Baby Products, LLC where a majority found that laches cannot be invoked as a defense against a claim for patent infringement damages brought within the 6-year limitations period.
NAFTA
As mentioned on Friday, the NAFTA arbitration tribunal in the Eli Lilly ‘promise doctrine’ proceeding has issued a ruling. The public decision is now available confirming that the tribunal decided in favour of Canada on the merits. The decision addresses issues of jurisdiction, liability for judicial measures and Canada’s utility requirements for patents. Continue reading NAFTA
NAFTA
The NAFTA arbitration tribunal in the Eli Lilly ‘promise doctrine’ proceeding has issued a ruling. Reports are that the tribunal has decided in favour of Canada on the merits. Continue reading NAFTA
2016 in Official Marks
Canada has a scheme under the Trade-marks Act, where government authorities can list official marks. In 2016, over 700 prohibited marks were listed in Canada. The top ten filers were Continue reading 2016 in Official Marks
Canadian Trademark Firms in 2016
About 55,390 trademark applications were filed in Canada in 2016. Of these, about 24% were filed in-house or without an agent (up slightly from previous years). Check out my list of the 50 firms/agents that filed the most applications in 2016. Continue reading Canadian Trademark Firms in 2016