Upcoming Changes to Canadian Patent Rules: How to Plan Ahead

Marc LampertNews, Patent, Patents

By Marc Lampert and Ammar Kalanaki Recent amendments to the Patent Rules will come into force on October 3, 2022 and introduce (1) excess claim fees, and (2) a request for continued examination (RCE) practice; among several other amendments.   The new Rules will apply to any application for which a request …

Trademark Lawyers And Celebrity Culture

Erika MurrayPatents

Being a public persona is hard work and often involves the help of a diligent trademark lawyer. In the United States, some of the most talked-about celebrities have been employing the help of trademark lawyers to protect their name – and the lucrative business that comes with the brand – …

Identifying gaps in fostering tech commercialization

Erika MurrayExpert Insights, Intellectual Property, News, Patents

Incubators and accelerators are helping start-up companies across the country, but Toronto intellectual property lawyer Erika Murray suggests more can be done to support tech entrepreneurs in their quest to innovate and commercialize. “The company start-up process involves creativity and some kind of ingenuity,” she tells AdvocateDaily.com. “It starts with …

SCC Renders Decision Against Google

Erika MurrayNews, Patents

A Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) ruling ordering search engine giant Google to remove the web pages of a company found to be duplicating a technology firm’s products will have a global impact, says Toronto intellectual property lawyer Erika Murray. “The unprecedented decision will have implications for IP (intellectual property) holders around the world and online …

3 Things Every Trademark Search Needs to Cover

Shadi NasseriPatents

A trademark search is an effective way of seeing the listings of existing trademarks in Canada. Given there are thousands of trademark applications per year and growing, this can seem a little daunting. Luckily, there are many ways to conduct a search starting with preliminary online tools. For a more …

The Dos and Don’ts of Registered Trademarks

Erika MurrayPatents

When you think of trademarks, what comes to mind? Probably an assortment of symbols, each evoking a particular large company brand identity with its respective qualities. The value of these associations is obvious. Certainly, one role of a trademark is to represent this defining aspect of branding – i.e. trademarks …

How Startups Can Create Value from Filing Patent Applications

Marc LampertPatents

Uber has quickly risen from an early stage controversial disruptor to a household name. Uber has transformed the delivery of personal transportation and is one of several companies on the verge of bringing autonomous vehicles to the masses. When Uber was a startup, its goal was to put intracity travel …

The Benefits of an Early Patent Search

Erika MurrayPatents

Are you working on a new technological invention or innovating upon an existing technology? Creative development requires a lot of time and financial resources, and it’s attached to a string of demands and details that need constant attention. While the logistics that go into your technological development are highly important, …

Starting Your Patent Journey on the Wrong Foot: Why to be Cautious about Filing a Weak U.S. Provisional Application

Marc LampertExpert Insights, News, Patents

In the Canadian startup community, a common and perpetuated piece of advice given to entrepreneurs is to self-file their initial patent application. Often, this advice involves self-filing a United States provisional patent application. Due to the lack of formal examination of provisional applications, entrepreneurs can file these types of applications without …