Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued two rulings on attorney fees in patent litigation and fee shifting. In Octane Fitness, LLC v. ICON Health & Fitness, Inc. the court rejected earlier decisions on the ‘exceptional circumstances’ needed to award fees and wrote than exceptional case is “simply one that stands out from others”. Continue reading US Fee Shifting
World IP Day
April 26 is “World IP Day“. WIPO started the event in 2000 to “promote discussion of the role of intellectual property (IP) in encouraging innovation and creativity”. This year’s theme is the movies. Also, CIPO’s patent database will not be available this weekend from 6:00 p.m. on April 25 until 11:00 p.m. on April 27. Continue reading World IP Day
Smartphone “Posner Appeal”
The U.S. Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit released its decision in Apple Inc. v. Motorola, Inc., the appeal from Judge Posner’s decision on smartphone patent litigation between the two companies. Judge Posner had denied both infringement actions on the basis that neither side could prove damages. In an opinion for the court, along with two opinions dissenting-in-part, the CAFC reversed-in-part, but affirmed, among other things, that Motorola was not entitled to an injunction for infringement of a FRAND-committed patent.
Judicial Appointments
George R. Locke, an IP lawyer with Norton Rose Fulbright in Montréal, René Leblanc, a lawyer with the Department of Justice Canada, and Martine St-Louis, a lawyer with McCarthy Tétrault in Montréal were appointed today to the Federal Court. Justice Boivin was elevated to the Federal Court of Appeal. Appointments were also made to the Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Tax courts.
Significant Changes to Trade-marks Act introduced by Budget Bill C-31
Last week, the federal government introduced significant changes to the Trade-marks Act by tabling the omnibus budget bill, Bill C-31, the Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 1 on March 28, 2014. The “monster” Bill makes changes to nearly forty different pieces of legislation, and is designed to enact measures in last month’s federal budget. The trademark amendments will allow Canada to meet its international treaty obligations (including the Nice Agreement, Singapore Treaty, and the Madrid Protocol). According to the government summary, the proposed changes make the Trade-marks Act consistent with the Singapore Treaty, add authority to carry the Madrid Protocol into effect, and simplify the trademark application filing requirements.
Continue reading Significant Changes to Trade-marks Act introduced by Budget Bill C-31
Copyright Treaties
Last week the government authorized the Department of Foreign Affairs to take the actions necessary to bring into force for Canada, the World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty and the World Intellectual Property Organization Performances and Phonograms Treaty. The coming into force of the treaties will affect the entry into force of several sections of the Copyright Modernization Act from 2012.
Equitable Remuneration
A proposed “Statement” limiting the scope of equitable remuneration under s.19 of the Copyright Act for countries that do not offer a reciprocal right, was published in the Canada Gazette. This will update a similar statement from 1999 for changes to domestic laws and countries which have acceded to the Rome Convention.
Prothonotaries
The Federal Government has responded to the recommendations of the special advisor on Prothonotary compensation, including with a proposal to have Prothonotary compensation managed under the Judges Act.
Experimental Testing
The Federal Court has published a Notice to the Profession on experimental testing in patent infringement and validity actions. It requires that notice be provided at least two months prior to the service of expert reports and unless notice is provided, the party shall not lead evidence at trial as to the experiments except with leave of the Court.
Motion Practice in Ontario Court
The Ontario Court issued practice notices regarding motion practice last fall that were recently published online. The first requires, among other things, the moving party to file a Notice of Motion within 10 days after the motion date is requisitioned. The second is an announcement that additional resources are being allocated to long motions.