A New Era for Industrial Design: Buildings and Structures Now Recognized as Finished Articles

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) recently announced a shift in its practice regarding industrial designs applied to buildings or structures. This change promises notable implications for the field of industrial design. Previous Stance Previously, the Industrial Design Office (the Office) did not allow registration of designs applied to buildings or structures. The Office believed that these were not finished articles. The New Practice However, effective immediately, the Office now recognizes buildings and structures as finished articles. This includes buildings and structures constructed on site....