Canadian Combating Counterfeit Products Act Passed Into Law

Bill C-8, the Combating Counterfeit Products Act passed third reading and received Royal Assent on December 9, 2014. Amendments to the Criminal Offence provisions in the Copyright Act and new offence provisions in the Trademarks Act, as well as some other minor amendments came into effect upon Royal Assent and are now in force. The remaining provisions will come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the governor-in-council.

The Bill, viewed by many as being overdue, adds new prohibitions and offences intended to assist in addressing the problem of distribution of counterfeit products in Canada. Specifically, the Bill adds:

• new prohibitions to the Trademarks Act and Copyright Act;