Regulatory Ramblings: Episode 72 - Cultural Roots, Belonging, and the Fear of Change: What’s Next for Inclusion?
Daily Compliance News: June 24, 2025, The Questions, Questions, and More Questions Edition
Hot Topics in International Trade - Tariff Mitigation Strategies
Everything Compliance, Shout Outs and Rants: Episode 151, The What is Illegal DEI Edition
Adapting to Tariffs and Other Trade Policy Shifts Under the Trump Administration
A Brief Primer on Tariffs Under the Trump Administration
Protect, Prepare, Prevail: Navigating a Complex Cybersecurity World
Private M&A 2024: Key Trends and Forecasts
Patent Considerations in View of the Nearshoring Trends to the Americas
Examining E-Discovery in Competition Law
No Password Required: Education Lead at Semgrep and Former Czar for Canada’s Election Security
Shifting Dynamics in Private Equity
4 Key Takeaways | Major U.S. Supreme Court Trademark & Copyright Decisions
Hidden Traffic : New Human Trafficking and Child Labor Regulation in Canada with Sean Stephenson
[Podcast] Catching Up on Canadian Environmental Regulation
[Podcast] USMCA in Review, with C.J. Mahoney, Former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative
Episode 4 - USMCA and the trade relationship between the U.S.A, Mexico, & China
Five Questions, Five Answers: Electric Mobility Canada on Its Promises for a Cleaner Economy
Five Questions, Five Answers: The Voice of Canadian Automotive Parts Manufacturers
The Great Green North: A Discussion on Canada’s Environmental Regulations
Canadian agricultural family enterprises are living legacies that anchor our local economies. From household names to community-driven farms, these businesses have deep roots in the land and the hearts of their communities....more
Join us for an insightful webinar on how to address the French Charter requirements for trademarks appearing on products, considering the recently issued Quebec regulation and the OQLF's new guidelines. Over this 60-minute...more
Those familiar with filing and prosecuting trademark applications in Canada will know that the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has among the world’s most stringent standards for assessing the specificity of goods...more
“Scandal is gossip made tedious by morality.”- O Wilde - In crafting Valley of Mother of God Gin, the founders of Foxglove Spirits, Malcolm Roberts and Shelly Perry, drew inspiration from the lush forests and fields...more
On June 26, 2024, the Province of Québec released the long-awaited final amendments to the Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business (Regulation), which amend multiple French-language requirements, including...more
2023 was an active year in Canadian trademark law. Canadian Courts addressed a wide range of issues, from licensing to comparative advertising to co-branding. Notable changes also emerged from the Canadian Trademarks...more
Trying some healthy habits in 2024? Your trademarks want you to do the same! A trademark has value when it is distinct and enforceable. Even registered marks can lose value if proper “trademark hygiene” is not followed...more
On May 13, 2021, the Québec government introduced Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec (the Bill), proposing significant amendments to Québec’s Charter of the French Language (the...more
Recently the Canadian Trademarks Office announced that extensions of time available in Oppositions and Section 45 (non-use cancellation) proceedings will be significantly reduced as of December 1st. In this article, we look...more
Earlier this year, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) announced that it will increase its official fees on January 1, 2024. Earlier this summer, we wrote about the impact on patent fees, which are increasing by...more
Last week, the Federal Court of Canada issued its long-awaited decision in Energizer Brands, LLC v Gillette Company, 2023 FC 804. The case is noteworthy because it is a “comparative advertising” case, and one of only a few...more
This spring, join our Smart & Biggar trademark experts and gain new insights at our popular Canadian Trademarks webinar series. Each webinar provides practical tips and strategies for global brand protection in Canada, with a...more
In this webinar, our speakers will discuss the French language requirements in Québec as they apply to product markings, promotion, and advertisement, with practical tips on how to take advantage of the “recognized trademark”...more
The Internet has developed into an essential part of virtually every business, from online sales, to software as a service, to online marketing. This has led to a corresponding rise in the type and volume of online IP risks...more
Trademark symbols, including ® and TM, and their French counterparts MD and MC, are commonly seen in the Canadian and international marketplaces. While such symbols are easy to recognize, it is important to understand the...more
Under the Trademarks Act, a trademark that clearly describes (or deceptively misdescribes) where a good or service comes from often cannot be registered. What then does a “place of origin” encompass – a city? a country? a...more
2021 offered many lessons to Canadian trademark owners including: reminders of the challenges of enforcing inherently weak trademarks and the importance and benefits of registering IP rights at the Canadian border. As well,...more
Until just a few years ago, most Canadian brand owners doing business abroad had limited options for protecting their trademarks outside of Canada. They were obliged to file separate applications in each country of interest,...more
Be part of this renowned event which shape the law, policy and proceedings of Canadian advertising and marketing law. Attend the Canadian Institute’s 27th Annual Virtual Conference on Advertising & Marketing Law to delve...more
Comparative advertising can be a useful tool for marketers. It positions competing brands against each other and helps consumers make better choices. However, there are legal limits to comparative advertising which are set...more
Trademarks are among the most valuable assets owned by companies that focus on individual consumers — from breweries to start-up app developers. Trademarks protect brands and can be found in the form of words (COCA COLA),...more
On June 17, 2019, Canada’s Trademarks Act changed, resulting in its modernization. Canada has now joined five international intellectual property treaties, including the Madrid Protocol, Singapore Treaty and Nice Agreement,...more
The November 2018 issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to Market® newsletter discusses IP protection for food products, the now-scheduled changes to Canadian trademark laws, and the new gTLD Sunrise Periods. In this issue: ...more