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
On April 1, 2025, long-awaited amendments to Canada’s Trademarks Act and Trademarks Regulations will come into force. The purpose of the amendments is to discourage abuse of Canada’s trademarks regime and to improve the...more
If you own a U.S. trademark registration, you have likely encountered (or will encounter) an audit by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The audit program, launched by the USPTO in November 2017, was enacted as a...more
By Marie Lussier In January 2025, the Registrar of Trademarks launched a pilot project in which it sends notices to certain registrants asking them to show use of their registered mark, failing which their registration is to...more
Le registraire des marques de commerce (le « registraire ») peut désormais exiger des propriétaires de marques de commerce déposées auprès de l’Office de la propriété intellectuelle du Canada qu’ils présentent des preuves...more
In this article, we review a number of notable Canadian trademark cases from 2024 and highlight key developments in Canadian trademarks practice. On February 5, 2025, join us for an insightful webinar as we deliver a roundup...more
The Registrar of Trademarks (Registrar) can now request that owners of trademarks registered with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) submit proof of use of certain trademarks or face expungement of those marks...more
Join us for an insightful session as our presenters Pelle Berends, Tierney G.B. Deluzio, Meika Ellis and Kwan T. Loh deliver a roundup of Canadian trademark law, highlighting some of the most important new cases and practice...more
On December 12, 2024, the Canadian Trademarks Opposition Board (TMOB) announced plans to initiate a pilot project in January 2025 whereby the Registrar of Trademarks will proactively issue a limited number of section 45...more
A recent decision of the Federal Court, Trial Division in Little Brown Box Pizza, LLC v. DJB (2024 FC 1592) provides guidance on the question of special circumstances that can excuse an absence of trademark use in Section...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
Le 26 juin 2024, le gouvernement du Québec a publié la version modifiée de son règlement relatif à l’application des obligations en matière de langue française dans le contexte du commerce et des affaires. L’édiction du...more
On June 26, 2024, the Quebec government amended its regulation relating to the application of Quebec’s language legislation in the context of commerce and business. The adoption of this Regulation to amend mainly the...more
The author of the lyrics for Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” probably didn’t have trademarks in mind when he wrote “we stand on guard for thee.” But a recent trademark infringement win for a Maryland-based U.S....more
Survey evidence can be used in trademark disputes to establish consumer perception and brand power. A recent Federal Court decision provides guidance on factors that may influence the admissibility of online survey evidence....more
On January 1, 2024, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) introduced significant increases to the government fees it levies on actions before the Canadian Trademarks Office, including fee increases of over 30% for...more
The intellectual property (IP) of your business has value. IP can take several forms, including patent and trademark registrations, or intellectual property rights arising from common law, such as trade secrets, confidential...more
In a decision dated January 24, 2024, Justice Pallotta allowed Novartis’ application, finding that Biogen and Samsung’s use of the trademark BYOOVIZ in association with an ophthalmologic drug violates Novartis’ rights in its...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
Speakers: Kwan T Loh, Olivier Jean-Lévesque, Nora Labbancz, Reagan Seidler In this webinar, Smart & Biggar's Trademarks team will provide a roundup of Canadian IP law by highlighting some of the most important new laws,...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
Canada has emerged as a popular jurisdiction for trademark designations under the Madrid Protocol, a global system facilitating streamlined protection of marks across multiple countries. According to WIPO’s Madrid Yearly...more
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has announced that as of December 1, 2023, updates to the Practice Notices for trademark opposition proceedings and section 45 (non-use cancellation) proceedings will come into...more
In our previous article, Protecting Your Brand: A Primer on Canadian Trademarks, we touched upon the beginning stages of a trademark application and considerations such as, "Should I register my trademark?" and "Is the...more
This webinar will highlight Canada-specific issues for those pursuing Canadian designations of international registrations. Our speakers will outline surprising challenges and unexpected issues that can arise with the...more
The proverbial brand owner’s guidebook became a little bigger in 2022. Developments in practice opened new avenues for securing and enforcing trademark rights over the past year, including an “accelerated” path to trademark...more