As with previous years, Canada has been placed on the U.S. 2011
Priority Watch List of countries for which there are concerns
regarding the protection and enforcement of intellectual property
rights1. Canada has been perceived by the U.S.
government as being weak on IP enforcement, particularly regarding
anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting measures. However, a number of
developments over the past year demonstrate that Canada is
challenging these perceptions and that its continued presence on
the Priority Watch List should become a thing of the
past."
Anti-Counterfeiting and Anti-Piracy
In an anti-counterfeiting decision released by the Federal Court
of Canada on June 27, 2011, the plaintiffs (Louis Vuitton and
Burberry) were awarded damages totalling almost CAD$2.5 Million.
This is believed to be the largest damages award in a Canadian
anti-counterfeiting case.2 Notably, in its decision, the
Court acknowledged the "...egregious and outrageous nature of
activities
