Knowledge

Intellectual Property, Patent

Would Canada champion an innovator like Ahmed Mohamed?

As an inventor, I know that Ahmed Mohamed will pursue his passion to invent. The spark of curiosity never dies; setbacks only strengthen one’s resolve to create, to perfect, to dream. Ahmed’s jarring collision with Islamophobia, followed by widespread support, has strengthened his resolve to fight on behalf of others. Read More

Intellectual Property, Patent

The Canadian Patent Deficit

According to a 2015 study by the Conference Board of Canada (CBC), Canada ranks 9th out of 16 peer nations in innovation. The ranked order includes Sweden, Denmark, Finland, U.S., Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Canada, Germany, Japan, Australia, Belgium, U.K, France and Ireland. Read More

Intellectual Property

The pros & cons of practising IP

When we refer to IP, we typically hear about patents, trademarks, copyright, and industrial design, but there is so much more. Protecting cannabis seeds under the Plant Breeders’ Act; registering a sound or scent as a trademark; cyber squatters and new gtlds; request for assistance to the Canadian Border Services Agency for copyright and trademark owners; the use of trademarks in commercial advertising in Quebec and the Charter of the French Language. Read More

Trademark

Trademark Act – Exciting times ahead

The alarm bells started ringing just over a year ago. Canada was finally taking the plunge — joining the Madrid Protocol, the Nice Agreement and the Singapore Treaty, and harmonising its intellectual property framework with the laws of its major trading partners. Given the magnitude of the proposed changes and the procedural modifications that would be required to put them in place, that timeline seemed impracticably short and the push to fast-track the legislation seemed shortsighted. Read More

Patent

The Canadian Innovation Deficit

A score of greater than one in the patents index means that a country is more successful in patenting than the size of its economy would warrant. Conversely, a score of less than one indicates that a country is less successful in patenting than the size of its economy would warrant. Read More