The Federal Court has issued an updated Practice Notice on the Court’s “transition back to in-person hearings”. For hearings scheduled in January 2023 and beyond, the presumption will be in-person except for motions scheduled to be heard for a duration of two hours or less, as well as certain IRPA and Citizenship Act proceedings. “The Court encourages parties to all modes of hearings to proceed on the basis of an electronic record” Continue reading COVID Practice Notice
Tag Archives: Federal Court
Federal Court
Earlier this week, Justice Guy Régimbald, a partner at Gowling WLG in Ottawa was appointed to the Federal Court. Judicial appointments were also made this week to the courts in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. Continue reading Federal Court
Associate Judge
An order in council published in today’s Canada Gazette has put into force various amendments to among others, the Judges Act, and the Federal Courts Act to change the title of prothonotaries of the Federal Court and Tax Court of Canada from “prothonotary” to “associate judge”. Continue reading Associate Judge
Closures
The Federal Court and CIPO will be closed on Monday, September 19 for Her Late Majesty’s State Funeral. Both the Federal Court and CIPO will also be closed on September 30 for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Continue reading Closures
Patentable Subject Matter
As reported yesterday, the government/CIPO has appealed the decision of Benjamin Moore v. AGC, 2022 FC 923 regarding the proper test to determine whether a patent application is directed to computer-implemented patentable subject matter. The Notice of Appeal (pdf) states in part, “The Judge erred by ordering the Commissioner to apply the New Test because it contradicts binding jurisprudence of the Federal Court of Appeal in [Amazon] and [Schlumberger].”
Federal Court
Several test proceedings were opened over the weekend, likely to test the new online access to court documents pilot project announced by the Federal Court last week. Continue reading Federal Court
Queen
With the Queen’s passing, both the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal have issued practice notices today stating:
Henceforth, where the Crown is a party to a proceeding, parties should designate “His Majesty the King” rather than “Her Majesty the Queen”. With respect to pending matters, the designation will be considered to have been so altered without the need to bring a motion to amend the style of cause.
Online Federal Court documents
The Federal Court has announced a pilot project for online access to court records. For new proceedings in some areas of law, including intellectual property, started on or after September 12, 2022, e-filed pleadings and written arguments, as well as directions/orders will be available online through the docket listings. There will be a 3-day delay before they are available online and materials subject to a confidentiality order will not be available online. Documents can also be obtained through the Court’s Registry.
Patent Decision
The Federal Court issued public reasons for judgment in Rovi Guides v. Videotron, 2022 FC 874. The Court found the four asserted patents invalid for being obvious and/or anticipated and accepted non-infringement defences advanced by the defendant, Videotron. If there had been liability, the Court concluded that the Plaintiff would not have been entitled to an accounting of profits and a design-around cost would have been a reasonable upper bound for any royalty. Videotron was represented by a team from DLA Piper including Bruce Stratton, Alan Macek, Michal Kasprowicz, Gabriella Levkov and Nicole Nazareth.
Federal Court
The Federal Court has issued an updated consolidated Practice Notice dated June 8, 2022. The practice notice consolidates and replaces earlier notices on such issues as informal requests for interlocutory relief, early requests for a hearing, books of authorities, addressing costs at hearings and the appearance of articling students at hearings. Continue reading Federal Court