Oh, My God (OMG)! – Scandalous Trademarks in Canada (and the US)

“Scandal is gossip made tedious by morality.”- O Wilde In crafting Valley of Mother of God Gin, the founders of Foxglove Spirits, Malcolm Roberts and Shelly Perry, drew inspiration from the lush forests and fields surrounding their Ontario farm property.    They did not, however, anticipate the wildfire of legal obstacles that combusted when they filed …

Are You Getting Bang for Your Buck with Canadian Trademarks?

On January 1, 2024, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) introduced significant increases to the government fees it levies on actions before the Canadian Trademarks Office, including fee increases of over 30% for filing applications and renewing registrations. Similar fee increases have also been implemented for opposition and non-use cancellation proceedings, among other transactions. With …

Proposed Changes to the Canadian Patent Rules

The Canadian government has provided notice of a number of proposed changes to the Canadian Patent Rules.  These particular changes will impact patent Applicants’ costs and may call for different prosecution tactics. As of this writing, the date the proposed changes are to come into force has not officially been announced.  However, we expect this …

Canadian Trademarks

Good News! In 2021, applications filed in Canada went up 13.7%, partly due to Canada’s accession to the Madrid Protocol. When Canada is designated via the Madrid Protocol, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) will communicate directly with the applicant if a Canadian trademark agent is not appointed. Correspondence from the CIPO, such as office …