On Monday, June 17, 2019, significant changes to the Trademarks Act will come into force. These long awaited changes including changes to implement the Madrid Protocol, the Singapore Treaty and the Nice Agreement. Many of CIPO’s online trademark services are offline until Monday morning in preparation for the changes. Continue reading Trademark Changes
All posts by Alan Macek
CIPO downtime
In support of the upcoming changes to the Trademark Act, CIPO is taking some online services offline for patents, copyright, industrial designs from Thursday, June 13, 2019, at 4 p.m. EDT to Friday, June 14, 2019, at 7 a.m. EDT. Trademark online services will be offline from Thursday, at 00:00 EDT to Monday, at 06:00am EDT. Continue reading CIPO downtime
Copyright Review
The Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology has issued its report (link) on the 5-year statutory review of the Copyright Act. The committee includes 36 recommendations touching on simplifying the structure of the Copyright Act, reversion of copyright, crown copyright, computer generated works, fair dealing, safe harbours and statutory damages, among other things.
Update: Link to report fixed after they moved it.
NAFTA 2.0
Bill C-100 was introduced today for first reading, An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States. The Bill includes amendments to the Copyright Act and Trademarks Act. Continue reading NAFTA 2.0
Judges’ Dinner
I’m looking forward to catching up with friends and colleagues tomorrow at the CBA IP Day and Judges’ Dinner in Ottawa.
Digital Charter
The government announced a “Digital Charter” today on privacy and data usage, including proposed changes to PIPEDA.
Copyright Recommendations
Earlier this week the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage issued a report and recommendations (link) on remuneration for artists, that includes recommendations for amendments to the Copyright Act.
Trademark Regulations
Further amendments to the Trademarks Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette Part 2 this week. These amendments relate to changes to the Trademarks Act that received royal asset in December 2018 directed to simplifying the opposition practice with divisional applications as part of the changes coming into force on June 17th.
Appointments
Justice Peter Pamel and Justice Nicolas McHaffie were appointed to the Federal Court on May 6th – news release. Justice Pamel was a partner at BLG practicing primarily in the area of maritime law. Justice McHaffie was a partner at Stikemans focusing on intellectual property, public law and administrative/regulatory litigation.
Plain Packaging
Yesterday, regulations were published in the Canada Gazette Part II, implementing plain packaging for tobacco products. The coming into force date is November 9, 2019. Continue reading Plain Packaging