Canada's New "Use-less" Trademarks Act

For a Canadian patent application to be examined, an applicant must file a request for examination with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). In most cases, the order in which applications are examined is based on the order that the requests for examination are received. An applicant may be able to accelerate examination of their patent application through several existing mechanisms, including advancing examination via special order, accelerating examination of applications related to green technology, and the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH).

The rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure has made these facilities a focal point for technological innovation and intellectual property investment. From server configurations to advanced cooling systems, the technologies deployed inside data centres represent significant R&D expenditure and competitive advantages. Patent protection offers operators and developers opportunities to safeguard innovations...

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has introduced a new pilot program offering accelerated patent examination for innovations in two critical areas. What technologies qualify for expedited processing, and how can patent applicants take advantage of this limited opportunity?

The Trademarks Opposition Board recently upheld a registration for the FRÜH & DESIGN trademark covering top fermented beers, demonstrating that clear evidence of use can successfully defend against section 45 proceedings. This decision illustrates how straightforward documentation of sales, distribution networks, and delivery records proved sufficient to maintain trademark protection in Canada.

Fraudulent communications targeting intellectual property rights holders are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often impersonating legitimate professionals or government offices. Understanding how these schemes operate and recognizing warning signs can help protect your valuable IP assets from exploitation.

Canada's new Patent Term Adjustment system offers compensation for delays in patent issuance, but qualifying depends on meeting specific eligibility requirements and strategic prosecution decisions. Understanding how the CIPO's "chess clock" philosophy works and implementing key strategies like deferred examination and timely maintenance fee payments can significantly impact whether meaningful term adjustments are granted.

The Trademarks Opposition Board's recent ruling in Therrien Couture Joli-coeur v Oldcastle Building Products clarifies the evidentiary standards trademark owners must meet when responding to section 45 notices under Canada's Trademarks Act. This decision highlights critical distinctions between evidence of actual transfers versus mere advertising, and underscores the necessity of providing specific proof for each registered good to avoid expungement.

Canadian patent law provides mechanisms for restoring priority claims when applications are filed after the standard 12-month priority period expires. Understanding the specific requirements, timelines, and criteria for restoration across regular Canadian applications, PCT national phase entries, and international stage PCT applications can help applicants preserve earlier filing dates and avoid self-anticipation issues.

Obtaining a trademark registration provides several benefits for businesses. Trademark registrations can help protect your rights and serve as assets that may be leveraged through licensing or used as collateral. However, obtaining a trademark registration in multiple jurisdictions can be a costly endeavour, and it can be difficult to prioritize where and when to seek registration to maximize protection.

The Saskatchewan Court of King's Bench has issued Canada's first damages award for plant breeders' rights infringement, adopting patent law principles to quantify substantial damages in a case...

For a Canadian patent application to be examined, an applicant must file a request for examination with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). In most cases, the order in which applications are examined is based on the order that the requests for examination are received. An applicant may be able to accelerate examination of their patent application through several existing mechanisms, including advancing examination via special order, accelerating examination of applications related to green technology, and the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH).

Le Conseil d'examen du prix des médicaments brevetés (CEPMB) a lancé une consultation supplémentaire de 30 jours sur un projet de directives relatives à la pratique révisées...

Santé Canada a publié de nouvelles modifications réglementaires visant à renforcer sa capacité à prévenir et résoudre les pénuries de médicaments et d'instruments médicaux.

L'Agence des médicaments du Canada établit des principes directeurs pour l'utilisation de l'intelligence artificielle dans la génération de preuves cliniques du contexte réel.

The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) has launched a second 30-day consultation on revised proposed Practice Directions for hearings related to excessive medicine pricing and compliance with filing requirements. The revised directions incorporate feedback from the initial consultation, with a summary chart detailing all edits available for stakeholder review.

Canada's Drug Agency has released new guidance on using artificial intelligence methods to generate real-world evidence for health technology assessments, establishing governance considerations and appraisal principles that emphasize transparency, human oversight, and validation. The agency also launched initiatives supporting precision medicine decision-making, including testing procedure assessments and a pan-Canadian framework for biomarker evaluation in cancer care.

Health Canada has published comprehensive amendments to drug and medical device shortage regulations, introducing expanded reporting requirements, extended expiration date authorities, and enhanced exceptional importation frameworks. The new measures grant the Minister of Health broader powers to prevent and respond to supply disruptions while requiring manufacturers to provide 12-month advance notice of discontinuations.

Health Canada has announced significant regulatory changes for medical device establishment licensing, set to take effect in December 2026. These Phase II amendments aim to streamline requirements...

Santé Canada modernise son processus d'octroi de licences d'établissement d'instruments médicaux avec des modifications réglementaires majeures entrant en vigueur en décembre 2026. Ces changements visent à alléger le fardeau réglementaire, promouvoir l'innovation et améliorer la compétitivité de l'industrie canadienne des dispositifs médicaux.

Santé Canada a obtenu une injonction permanente contre Canlab Research, interdisant la vente de peptides injectables non autorisés au Canada. Cette décision fait suite à des mesures coercitives répétées visant à protéger les consommateurs contre des produits non homologués présentant des risques graves pour la santé.