Thank you for joining the IP Section for what promises to be a unique and exciting year. We are one of the most active sections of the CBA and we hope you feel the benefits of being a member.
This spring we moved from a world dominated by in-person experiences to one that is all virtual, and we managed, with your help, to overcome the challenge! Regrettably our flagship national program, IP Day, could not take place in Ottawa last May, but with the support and leadership of the CBA and our dedicated volunteers, we managed to quickly pivot and offer two well-attended Virtual Town Halls. Missed the Town Halls? Purchase the recordings.
Amidst all changes one constant remains: our Section continues to serve as the CBA’s national voice on intellectual property law and legal practice. We contribute to national policy, promote professionalism in the field of IP law, and respond to legislative initiatives. Our members get access to the latest submissions and news.
We regularly liaise with the government, including Innovation, Science and Economic Development, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, and Global Affairs Canada. Our work touches on policy development (IP laws and regulations, program effectiveness and enforcement issues), joint outreach (seminars to business leaders on IP law), and input on international treaty initiatives. In addition, we also liaise with other domestic and international organizations focused on IP issues like the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada.
Let’s Connect – We Want to Hear from You!
Please check out our webpage and find out who’s on the 2020-2021 Executive. Don’t hesitate to reach out to any one of us. We are interested in your perspective and learning how we can better serve your interests.
We want you to get involved!
Now more than ever, it is important to stay connected with colleagues and friends across the country. Here’s how you can stay connected and contribute:
- Contribute to our advocacy efforts. Our recent Section’s submissions include:
- Responding to the WIPO Questionnaire: “Timing of the Publication of an International Registration under the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs”
- Submission which formed part of a multi-Sectional response to the federal government’s draft legislative proposal – Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) – published on May 19, 2020.
- Submission letter to CIPO, commenting on the recent Trademarks Act amendment respecting the Registrar’s authority to raise an objection based on being not inherently distinctive.
- A welcome letter to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, to indicate that the Section will follow and contribute to the Copyright Act review.
- More broadly, recent CBA submission include:
- Join a Committee. Our committees deal with substantive issues on topics such as: patents and industrial design, counterfeiting and trade offenses, court practice, trademarks, and transactional IP. Reach out to me with your expression of interest. I promise participating in a committee is a great way to stay current and connected, and to contribute to the IP community!
- Our Section has a Diversity and Inclusion Committee and we would love to see it grow and take on more meaningful projects but we cannot do that without you! Contact us if you have suggestions on how to achieve that.
- Young Practitioners – We are committed to supporting our future members of the bar. We encourage law students to join the CBA and for those interested in IP, to enter our IP essay competition. I encourage you to have a look at last year’s winning paper, Reforming Canada’s Intellectual Property laws: the slow path to reconciliation, and the winning papers from years past. It may just reinvigorate your belief that the future of our profession is filled with great minds, and in great hands!
- Member Articles – A special thank you goes to the authors of our case summaries. This is a great resource for recent developments in case law.
- Join our LinkedIn Group and help us build our community!
Please contact our staff liaison Marina Ceclan to join a committee and get involved.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Georgina Starkman Danzig
Chair, CBA National Intellectual Property Section
Discover the NewLaw series in partnership with the CBA Quebec Branch exploring the "disruptive" movement that brings evolution, creation and innovation to the practice of law and the delivery of legal services. This series will be in French only. Want to learn more? Take a look at the four webinars.