November 29th is the deadline for applying to write the Patent Agent Exam in April 2014. This may be the last year for the exam under the current rules as amendments to the Patent Rules affecting the Patent Agent Exam (and the Trade-marks Agent Exam) are likely to be released in the new year.
Tag Archives: Rule Changes
Anti-Counterfeiting Returns
Yesterday, Bill C-8, Combating Counterfeit Products Act was introduced by the government. This is a re-introduction of Bill C-56 from the previous session and the Bill has been fast tracked to committee stage based on the status of Bill C-56 prior to prorogation.
European Trade Agreement
Canada and the EU have signed a trade agreement, CETA, which has several IP related provisions. Based on the government’s summary and media reports, these include geographic indicators, patent term extensions of up to two years and changes to the PM(NOC) Regulations.
Enforcement Provisions
The Federal Court has posted a discussion paper on proposed changes to the Federal Courts Rules regarding enforcement provisions, including issuing writs, garnishments and enforcement of domestic arbitral awards. The Rules Committee invites comments from counsel who use these rules.
Copyright Re-sale Rights
A private members Bill has received first reading in parliament that would amend the Copyright Act to include artist re-sale rights. Bill C-516, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (artist’s resale right), was introduced on May 29, 2013.
AIA Implementation
This weekend the ‘first-to-file’ rules come into force in the United States as part of the America Invents Act implementation. Among other things, the new rules affect the significance of the date of invention and the scope of prior art citable against applications.
Government introduces anti-counterfeiting legislation
Bill C-56, the Combating Counterfeit Products Act, was introduced today with amendments to the Copyright Act and Trade-marks Act, to among other things, allow the Canada Border Services Agency to detain suspected shipments and act on requests from rights holders. It will also “expand the scope of what can be registered as a trade-mark, allow the Registrar of Trade-marks to correct errors that appear in the trade-mark register, and streamline and modernize the trade-mark application and opposition process.”
Continue reading Government introduces anti-counterfeiting legislation
E-Filing in the Federal Court
The Federal Court has issued a revised Notice to the Profession on electronic service and filing of documents. Starting on March 1, 2013, the Federal Court will be using its own system for electronic filing, replacing the LexisNexis system used since 2009.
Amendments to Federal Courts Rules
Amendments have been made to the Federal Courts Rules relating to scheduling of general sittings, format of documents, notices of appearances in applications, increasing minimum lead time to file motion materials, and other “miscellaneous” amendments.
Proposed Anti-Spam Regulations
Industry Canada has published proposed Electronic Commerce Protection Regulations in Part I of the Canada Gazette for consultation. The regulations follow an earlier round of consultations in 2011 and the CRTC’s regulations and guidelines for Canada’s anti-spam legislation.