IP Decisions: 2023 FC 804: Energizer Brands, LLC v. Gillette Company

2023 FC 804: Energizer Brands, LLC v. Gillette Company

On July 6, 2023, the Federal Court of Canada announced its decision in a trademark dispute between Energizer Brands and the Gillette Company in a case about comparative advertising.  In particular, this dispute involved Energizer and Duracell, the two leading battery brands in Canada. Moreover, Energizer asserted that Duracell's use of Energizer's trademarks in their advertising depreciated the value of these trademarks. The Heart of the Matter Specifically, Duracell's battery packages had affixed labels that bore phrases that caught Energizer's attention. Duracell...

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Important Updates on Canadian Intellectual Property Regulations

This is to advise of some significant changes to the Canadian Intellectual Property regulations. These regulations pertain to the Patent Rules, Trademark Regulations, Industrial Design Regulations, and Copyright Regulations. Amendments to these Rules were registered on June 1st.  They incorporate government fee increases of approximately 25%, as well as an expansion of the definition of 'small entity'. Most of the amendments will come into force on January 1, 2024. CIPO's Fee Schedule The major change is that the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)...

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Canadian Patent Term Extension: A First Overview

The patent landscape in Canada is expected to undergo significant changes in the near future with the introduction of a new patent term extension provision. The new provision, which is set to come into effect on January 1, 2025 or by order in council, will grant additional term for a patent if certain criteria are met. As per the provisions of the new patent term extension, the Commissioner of Patents will grant an additional term for a patent if the patent...

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Pros and Cons for Making a Trademark Search Prior to Filing a Trademark Application 

Conducting a trademark search prior to filing a trademark application can be beneficial but it is important to weight out the pros and the cons.  You can read about the pros & con for making a trademark search prior to filing a trademark application by clicking here to go to our knowledge center. 

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2022 FC 923: Benjamin Moore and Co. v. Attorney General of Canada

Benjamin Moore & Co. appealed the decisions made by the Commissioner of Patents on CA 2,695,130 & CA 2,695,146 that the claims for these applications do not comprise patentable subject matter, under section 2 of the Patent Act, as the Commissioner determined the essential elements of each invention constituted a mere abstract theorem. The Commissioner erred by applying the wrong test for claim construction and patentable subject matter. She did not use the purposive construction approach to determine whether the actual...

Amendments to the Canadian Patent Rules to introduce Excess Claims Fees and Requests for Continued Prosecution (RCEs).

Patent Rule amendments were published July 3, 2021 in the Canada Gazette to streamline the patent examination process allowing Canada to implement the patent term adjustment obligation set out in the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). (For more information and a detailed list of the changes please see the Canada Gazette, Part 1, Vol. 155, NO. 27: Rules Amending the Patent Rules.) A Part II publication of the Patent Rule amendments in the Canadian Gazette is expected in about 6 months bringing...

Being a patent agent is challenging, becoming one is even more!

Being a patent agent is challenging, becoming one is even more! One of our Patent Agents, Peng Li, has compiled statistics regarding the pass rate for the patent agent exams in Canada, China and the U.S.A. Undoubtedly, the Canadian patent agent Examination is the most brutal one.  There is a surprisingly low average grade for Drafting (paper A) and Infringement Opinion (paper D). Being a patent agent is challenging in Canada; becoming one is even more!  Canadian Pass Rate Statistics China Pass Rate...

Tackle the pandemic together with CIPO

Tackle the pandemic together with CIPO In addition to the existing options to expedite examination of patent applications, CIPO just announced a pilot process allowing accelerated examination of patent applications related to COVID-19 under certain conditions. For more information visit: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04811.html Published by Mr. Peng Li – Registered Canadian Patent Agent

COVID 19 Update

COVID 19 Update In view of COVID 19, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office [Patent Office, Trademark Office, & Industrial Design Office] has again extended due dates until July 20th, 2020 for all matters before CIPO that have a deadline to take action for the period beginning March 16, 2020 and currently ending July 17, 2020. However, like CIPO, we are recommending that all deadlines falling within this period be continued to be met, where possible, so as to maintain as normal...

CUSMA (NFTA-2) comes into force July 1st 2020!

CUSMA (NFTA-2) comes into force July 1st 2020! CUSMA, the Canadian, United States and Mexico Agreement (NFTA-2) comes into force tomorrow, July 1st, 2020! Many IP obligations under CUSMA have been ratified through the new Patent Act, Industrial Design Act and Trademarks Act. More changes that will be made through legislative amendments are, for instance:       “collective marks” protection       Patent term adjustment due to unreasonable delay in the issuance of a patent       Increase in copyright protection       Strengthened the protection of trade secrets For more information please see: https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/cusma-aceum/text-texte/toc-tdm.aspx?lang=eng Published by Mr. Peng Li –...