In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court held today that the promise doctrine is not the correct approach to determine whether a patent has sufficient utility. As a result, the lower court decisions finding the patent at issue directed to Esomeprazole/Nexium invalid for want of utility, were set aside.
Tag Archives: Supreme Court of Canada
Global Injunction
The Supreme Court of Canada issued its decision today in Google Inc. v. Equustek Solutions Inc., 2017 SCC 34, with the majority holding in the 7-2 decision that the trial judge should be given deference in determining an interlocutory injunction, and where it is necessary to ensure the injunction’s effectiveness, a court can grant an injunction enjoining conduct anywhere in the world, including in this case against third-party Google. The underlying proceeding related to passing off and trade secret infringement by a defendant which was conducted outside B.C. through a series of changing websites.
Promise Doctrine
The Supreme Court announced that it will be releasing the decision in AstraZeneca Canada Inc. et al. v. Apotex Inc. et al. on Friday, June 30th. It is expected that the decision will consider whether lower courts erred in law in finding the patent invalid: (i) on the basis of a “promise of the patent” utility doctrine; and/or (ii) by applying an incorrect standard for patent utility.
SCC
In an announcement today, Rt. Hon. Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of Canada, announced today that she will retire from the Supreme Court of Canada effective December 15, 2017 after 28 years at the Supreme Court.
Extraterritorial Injunctions
The Supreme Court of Canada will hear arguments in Google Inc. v. Equustek Solutions Inc., et al on Tuesday, December 6th at 9:30, which will be webcast. The proceeding arose as a trademark and trade secret proceeding in which the court granted an injunction against the third party, Google, displaying certain search results globally. Continue reading Extraterritorial Injunctions
Promise at the SCC
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear oral arguments in AstraZeneca Canada Inc., et al. v. Apotex Inc., et al. (Esomeprazole) relating to the ‘promise doctrine’ of patent utility.
Intervenor Promise
The Supreme Court of Canada granted intervenor status on the six motions to intervene in the ‘promise doctrine’ proceeding: Innovative Medicines Canada and BIOTECanada (jointly); the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy (CIPP); the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA); the Fédération internationale des conseils en propriété intellectuelle (FICPI); the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) and the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC). See my earlier post on the intervenors and their materials. Continue reading Intervenor Promise
Intervenor Promise
The Supreme Court of Canada will be hearing AstraZeneca Canada Inc. v. Apotex Inc. on November 8, 2016 on the promised utility doctrine. Several intervenors have now filed materials on the promise doctrine: Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC), International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI), Innovative Medicines Canada, BioteCanada, Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), Centre for Intellectual Property Policy (CIPP) and Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA).
Promise
The Supreme Court of Canada granted leave today in AstraZeneca Canada Inc., et al. v. Apotex Inc., et al. (Esomeprazole), which considers, among other things, the promised utility doctrine in Canada. More details below.
More Promise?
The Supreme Court of Canada will release its leave to appeal decision on Thursday in AstraZeneca Canada Inc., et al. v. Apotex Inc., et al. (Esomeprazole), which considers, among other things, the promised utility doctrine in Canada. SCC File #36654 on appeal from 2015 FCA 158.