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.
Federal Court
- Justice Martine St-Louis was appointed today as Associate Chief Justice of the Federal Court.
- In a publication earlier this month, Chief Justice Crampton is cited regarding funding of the court: “the court is in “crisis” and considering cutting hearings due to a worsening budget shortfall”.
Patent Rules
“Regulations Amending the Patent Rules and Certain Regulations Made Under the Patent Act” have been registered and come into force January 1, 2025. The amendments address, among other things, patent term adjustments based on delays during patent prosecution. There are also some miscellaneous amendments. See my earlier post on these changes.
Federal Court
The Federal Court has issued an updated “Case and Trial Management Guidelines for Complex Proceedings and Proceedings under the PM(NOC) Regulations” and timetable checklist for PM(NOC) proceedings.
Copyright
Two private members bills addressing Technology Protection Measures (TPMs) in the Copyright Act received royal assent last week. C-244 adds an exception for circumvention of a TPM “for the sole purpose of maintaining or repairing a product” if the person does not infringe copyright. C-294 is directed to an exception for the interoperability of devices in which a computer program is embedded.
Appointments
Love Saint-Fleur, Commissioner for the Refugee Appeal Division at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada in Montréal, was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court. Appointments were also made today in Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and to the Tax Court.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The Federal Courts and the Canadian Intellectual Property Offices will be closed on Monday September 30th for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Continue reading National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Appointments
The Honourable Panagiotis Pamel, a Judge of the Federal Court, was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court of Appeal. Associate Judge Benoit Duchesne of the Federal Court in Ottawa, was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court.