There are reports that the government has again delayed the coming-into-force of the substantive changes to the Patented Medicines Prices Review Board guildelines by six-months. The updates had been scheduled to come into force on July 1st. Continue reading PMPRB
Federal Courts Rules
Amendments to the Federal Courts Rules have been registered based on proposed amendments published back in 2016. These amendments include (1) increases to the monetary limit for prothonotaries and for simplified actions; (2) provide for excerpts in books of authorities; (3) a timeline for filing of books of authorities in appeals; (4) condensed appeal books; (5) establishing a “Notice of Intention to Respond” and standardize the timeline for filing a defence for defendants who are served in either Canada or the United States; and (6) clarifying the material to be contained in an applicant’s record.
College
As reported in my post from last week, the College of Patent Agent and Trademark Agents will come into force on June 28. The supporting regulations were published in Canada Gazette today.
PTAB
The US Supreme Court has found that the judges of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) were improperly appointed under the U.S. constitution but fixed the issue by making PTAB determinations reviewable by the director of the USPTO (see Arthrex).
Federal Court of Appeal
The Federal Court of Appeal has issued another Practice Notice updating its COVID-19 related suspension periods including for files that were suspended in April (see earlier post) now that the “public health situation has now improved sufficiently”.
College
The new College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents is coming into force on June 28, 2021. The College will regulate patent and trademark agents, including the exams, maintenance of the register of agents and disciplinary matters. Continue reading College
PMPRB
The various amendments relating to the Patented Medicines Prices Review Board mentioned in my update earlier this week have now been published in the Canada Gazette Part 2.
PMPRB
Various amendments relating to the Patented Medicines Prices Review Board are to come into force on June 30, 2021 including amendments to sections 79 to 103 of the Patent Act. In addition there are some changes being made for consistency with the Patent Act and to encompass CSPs. This is in addition to the amended Patented Medicines Regulations expanding reporting requirements are scheduled to come into force July 1, 2021 after being delayed several times. Continue reading PMPRB
Federal Court of Appeal
The Federal Court of Appeal, in a new Practice Notice “Electronic Service of Documents for the duration of the Suspension Period”, makes electronic service by email permissible in all cases and requires email addresses be added to all documents filed with the Federal Court of Appeal, with limited exceptions, while the, now indefinite, Suspension Period is in effect.
Federal Court
The Federal Court has published revised consolidated intellectual property guidance for case management and trial management. The Court has included a blackline version which indicates that changes include limiting “second round” discovery, use of claim charts, compendia and slide decks at trial and requests to admit.