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Intellectual
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CBA Intellectual Property Section

Articles are published by the Intellectual Property Section. Members interested in posting articles are encouraged to send them to the Section by email: CBAI_P@cba.org.

Today
Today

Case Summary: Expert opinion evidence on ultimate issue in a judicial review proceeding struck

  • May 03, 2022
  • Cheryl Cheung

This decision dealt with a motion brought by the Attorney General of Canada (AGC) to strike three affidavits filed by Galderma Canada Inc. (Galderma) in the context of a judicial review application brought by Galderma. The judicial review was in regards to a redetermination decision of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) relating to Galderma’s drug Differin.

Intellectual Property

Online advertising patent decision

  • May 02, 2022
  • Ken Clark

This lengthy decision involved a patent dispute between PSET and Google in respect of a patent for online advertising entitled “management of advertising expenses in online media,” after a 15-day trial.

Intellectual Property

Lump sum costs appropriate for mostly successful party on summary trial

  • May 02, 2022
  • Alan Macek

Following a summary trial granting damages and an injunction for passing off and copyright infringement of software (see 2021 FC 1336), the Court granted lump sum costs fixed at 25% of actual fees less a minor adjustment, plus reasonable disbursements.

Intellectual Property

“Functionally equivalent” infringement amendments prior to trial denied

  • May 02, 2022
  • Alan Macek

The Court considered motions by each party to amend their pleadings and a motion by the defendant to bifurcate or adjourn the trial scheduled for August 2022. The defendant had implemented software updates alleged to be non-infringing alternatives, which had required updated expert reports and document requests. The plaintiff had sought to plead the new versions were “functionally equivalent” to the earlier versions of the software.

Intellectual Property

Case summary: The Federal Court addresses registrability of laudatory trademarks

  • May 02, 2022
  • Jenny Thistle

This was a failed section 56 appeal to set aside the Trademarks Opposition Board’s (TMOB) decision, rejecting the Applicants’ opposition to RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.’s trademark application to register HALLMARK for real estate services, among other services.

Intellectual Property

Case summary: Improper portions of reply expert report not admissible

  • February 16, 2022
  • David Chapman

This decision concerned a motion brought by the plaintiff for leave to file a reply expert report. The underlying action was brought by the plaintiff under s. 8 of the PM(NOC) Regulations, and the plaintiff’s expert had provided an initial expert report and a revision on the potential profits in the but-for world.

Intellectual Property