All posts by Alan Macek

Budget Changes

Introduced yesterday, budget bill C-86 includes changes to the Patent Act, Trade-marks Act, Copyright Act, enacts the College of Patent Agents and Trade-mark Agents Act and makes changes for IP licenses in insolvency. Some highlights include a college to regulate agents, reform of the Copyright Board, allows patent file histories to be admissible to rebut claim constructions, add bad faith as a ground of opposition for trademarks, and adds requirements for notices under the notice-and-notice copyright regime.

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NAFTA 2.0

Canada, the US and Mexico announced a new trade agreement and the IP chapter (link) includes changes to patent term adjustment, copyright term, data protection, border enforcement on in-transit, and trade secret enforcement.

Appointments

Justice Marianne Rivoalen was appointed to the Federal Court of Appeal today. She replaces Justice J.M. Woods, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective April 1, 2018. Prior to today’s appointment she was Associate Chief Justice of Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba (Family Division). Appointments were also made today to in the province of Saskatchewan. Continue reading Appointments