The world around us is becoming more reliant on technology, and
the practice of IP law is no exception. There are already numerous
resources offered by national IP offices and agencies around the
world. For instance, Google Patents, a search engine for prior art,
indexes more than 87 million patents and patent applications with
full text from 17 patent offices. Similarly the World
Intellectual Property Organization offers numerous resources
and databases to conduct international trademark, patent, and
industrial design searches. Here at home, CIPO's website has a large collection of
resources on Canadian IP law and how to register, enforce, and find
IP.
But beyond that, there are numerous third party resources that
offer a wealth of information. While it can be at times difficult
to navigate them or confirm their veracity, free online resources
can significantly streamline the day-to-day practice of IP law.
Below we set out some useful Canadian and international
