New evidence on appeal demonstrates use of TRAUMEEL mark during relevant period
Background In Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH v. Barrette Legal Inc., the Federal Court granted an appeal pursuant to section 56 of the Trademarks...Read More
Federal Court invalidates patent based on counsel’s admission of invalidity before Québec court
Background In Robitaille Equipment et al. v. 9125-6651 Quebec Inc. et al., the Federal Court decided a motion for summary judgment concerning...Read More
Court declines to dismiss action for undue delay but requires security for costs
Background The underlying action for copyright infringement in Comartin v. Marsh was commenced in November 2020. The action stalled after the exchange...Read More
No, no, no, no, don’t PUNK with Brewdog’s Trademark
In 2024 FC 891, Justice Tsimberis dismissed PDM’s appeal of the Trademarks Opposition Board’s decision to deny PDM’s trademark (“TM”) application for...Read More
Every cat has its Filadae: Panthera motorsports takes on Jaguar Land Rover and wins!
Branding is a serious business in the automotive industry. Companies go to great lengths to protect their trademarks, sometimes leading to disputes....Read More
A cautionary tale on appealing trademark oppositions: Trouble with narrowing distinctiveness grounds and website analytics
In D.M.C. SRL v Giusti, DMC appealed the Trademarks Opposition Board’s rejection of their opposition of Giusti’s trademark application no. 1,611,381. Giusti...Read More
Reply evidence report allowed in part as it aids the Court in determining merit
Background In Justice Furlanetto’s recent decision in Boehringer v JAMP, the Court returned to first principles in deciding whether to allow a...Read More
FCA affirms scope of “use” required for infringement
The Federal Court of Appeal upheld a summary trial decision finding Arc Resources Ltd., Rockies LNG Limited Partnership, Rockies LNG GP Corp....Read More
Time warp on the Patent Register: Amendments to Bayer’s aflibercept judicial review
In two judicial reviews considering when a first person’s patent is determined to be eligible for the Patent Register, and when a...Read More
Time warp on the patent register: Amendments to EMD Serono’s MAVENCLAD judicial review
This is one of two motions relating to judicial reviews that considered when a first person’s patent is eligible for listing on...Read More
In trademark appeal, Federal Court finds survey evidence inadmissible due to reliability and validity issues
Background In Promotion in Motion Inc. v. Hershey Chocolate & Confectionery LLC, the Federal Court dismissed an appeal brought under section 56 of...Read More
Seven years of delay invites dismissal
On April 25, 2017, Vermillion filed an application seeking expungement of Green Circle’s Green Circle Salons and Design mark. Seven years later,...Read More
CUSMA vs Food and Drug Regulations: Federal law predominates
Justice Stratas, writing a unanimous decision for the Federal Court of Appeal in Janssen v Attorney General of Canada, 2024 FCA 66,...Read More
Federal Court of Appeal echoes the Federal Court smart speaker decision
Justice Locke, writing a unanimous decision for the Federal Court of Appeal in Google LLC v Sonos Inc., 2024 FCA 44, dismissed...Read More
A bittersweet default judgment for Honey
The Federal Court granted default judgment in favour of Heather McDowell, owner of Toronto-based fashion boutique Honey, against the online boutique “A...Read More
Exchanging documents before discovery: A simplified procedure
In Rosebrook v Hill Times Publishing Inc., the Federal Court addressed whether a plaintiff (“Rosebrook”) is required to serve the defendant (“Canadian...Read More
Minor design elements will not rack the casual consumer’s brain
King Rack filed a trademark application seeking registration of its BUZZRACK design mark based on use in association with various rack-style carriers...Read More
Federal Court finds no error of law in order for production of financial statements
Background In Pharmascience Inc. v. Janssen Inc., the Federal Court dismissed an appeal of the order of the Case Management Judge compelling...Read More
Canadian Copyright Act draws the line between Rio Tinto and foreign author
GE commenced a copyright infringement action against Canmec, asserting ownership of copyright in 33 manufacturing drawings relating to butterfly valves. GE claimed...Read More
Due care must be used in paying patent maintenance fees and in requesting reinstatement
In what Justice Furlanetto describes as “the first judicial review in which the “due care” provisions under subsection 46(5) of the Patent Act have been substantively...Read More
Coors toasts its victory in maintaining its trademark registrations for “The Champagne of Beers”
Background In Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne v. Coors Brewing Company, the Federal Court dismissed the Applicants’ appeal of a decision...Read More
A one-two pulse for Takeda’s dexlansoprazole patent found not infringed and invalid
The Federal Court found Takeda’s Canadian Patent No. 2,570,916 to be invalid for lack of utility and sufficient disclosure and to be...Read More
Takeda’s dexlansoprazole patent found invalid for lack of sound prediction of utility and for insufficiency
Background The drug DEXILANT is used to treat heartburn associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease and to heal damage to the esophagus from...Read More
A triumph in trademark appeal: Backordered realities
Finastra International Ltd. v Fenestrae B.V. is an appeal from a Trademark Opposition Board decision to maintain certain goods and services on...Read More
False IP complainants get shrunken bank accounts
Keezio Group and The Shrunks’ Family Toy Company were market competitors who sold inflatable beds for children through Amazon.com. Keezio brought a...Read More