The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has announced an infrastructure upgrade and that all e-commerce applications will be unavailable from Friday, March 14 at 4 pm (ET) until Monday, March 17 at 6 am (ET).
Appointments
Darren Thorne, Member, Refugee Appeal Division, at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada in Toronto, and Andrew J. Brouwer, Senior Counsel, Refugee Law Office, at Legal Aid Ontario in Toronto were appointed Judges of the Federal Court. Appointments were also made today to the courts in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
Appointments
Danielle Ferron, Partner at Langlois Lawyers LLP in Montréal, was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court. Appointments were also made today in British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, and the Tax Court.
Trademark Amendments
Several amendments to the Trademarks Act and accompanying regulations are coming into force on April 1, 2025. To the Act, the changes include challenges to prohibited marks, limits on relief if there has been no use by the trademark owner, and changes to the discretion of the Federal Court on appeals from the registrar. The amendments to the regulations are directed to cost awards, confidentiality, and case management at the TMOB.
CIPO
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has announced an infrastructure upgrade and that all online services will be unavailable on Saturday, February 22 from 5 am to 6 pm (ET).
Appointments
Kirkland G. Shannon, Director General and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Law Commission of Canada in Ottawa, was appointed an Associate Judge of the Federal Court. Appointments were also made today to the Tax Court, and courts of New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta.
Continue reading Appointments
Malware
Unfortunately, the IPPractice.ca website got some malware on Friday which would try to redirect visitors. Thanks to everyone who reached out to let me know. The website has been cleaned up.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for another year with IPPractice! In 2024, I sent out just over 500,000 emails to about 2300 subscribers. I reported about 180 IP-related court decisions and over 320 new IP proceedings started in the Federal Courts. 2025 will be my 20th year of sending out IPPractice emails! All the best for the new year!
Appointments
Meaghan M. Conroy, Partner at MLT Aikins in Edmonton, was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court. Appointments were also made today in Quebec, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and to the Tax Court. Continue reading Appointments
Fall Economic Statement
The 2024 Fall Economic Statement includes support for amendments to the Copyright Act to create an Artist’s Resale Right, and the intention to implement a patent box regime.