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Importance of Brand Strength: The Arc of Confusion in Physio Health Trademark

IP Decisions /

On February 14, 2025, the Federal Court (per Fuhrer J.) found that Joanna Habbous, owner of the registered trademark PHYSIOHEALTH STUDIOS, had established infringement, passing off, and depreciation of goodwill against Arc Physio Health Ltd. The application was, however, dismissed against the named personal Respondents. Habbous v. Arc Physio Health Ltd., 2025 FC 297 Background Ms. […]

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Six-Year Limitation Period Applies to Patent Infringement Claims Filed in Alberta Court

IP Decisions /

The Alberta Court of Appeal (the “Court of Appeal”) held that the six-year limitation period in the Patent Act applies to infringement actions filed in the Alberta court, not the two-year period prescribed by provincial law. The plaintiff’s claim was not statute-barred and was remitted to the trial court for continued litigation. JL Energy Transportation

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Commissioner’s Refusal to Reinstate a Patent Set Aside Due to Deficiencies in Conducting the Two-Stage “Due Care” Inquiry

IP Decisions /

Co-written with Emily Papsin The Federal Court (per Zinn J.) set aside a decision by the Commissioner of Patents (“Commissioner”) refusing to reinstate Matco Tools Corporation’s (“Matco”) patent application which had been deemed abandoned for failure to pay maintenance fees. The Court found that the Commissioner did not conduct the requisite two-stage inquiry to assess

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Court holds that Health Canada patent listing delay is reasonable

IP Decisions /

The Federal Court (O’Reilly J.) dismissed an application for judicial review brought by Bayer Inc. (“Bayer”).  The Court found that the Minister of Health (the “Minister”) was not unreasonable in not determining the Bayer patent’s eligibility for listing on the patent register the same day it was received for consideration. Bayer Inc. v. Amgen Canada

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From Reel to Real: The Importance of Prior Use Evidence in Passing Off Cases

IP Decisions /

On January 3, 2025, the Federal Court (per McVeigh J) dismissed an application alleging passing off of the unregistered trademark “Indican Pictures” because the Applicant did not establish use of its mark prior to the Respondent beginning to use its allegedly confusing marks. 2K4 Inc. (Indican Pictures) v. Indiecan Entertainment Inc., 2025 FC 20 Background

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Nordik’s Appeal of Obviousness Finding for its Snow Plow Patents Gets Blown Over

IP Decisions /

The Federal Court of Appeal (per Locke J.A. with Leblanc J.A. and Pamel J.A. concurring) (“FCA”) held that the Federal Court (per St.-Louis J.) did not err in finding that several claims of Nordik Blades’ (“Nordik”) three patents on snowplow blades were invalid for obviousness. Usinage Pro-24 Inc. v. Valley Blades Ltd., 2025 FCA 4

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De novo appeal of a trademark expungement dismissed on the basis that new evidence did not demonstrate “use”

IP Decisions, Trademarks /

In a decision by Southcott J., the Federal Court agreed with the Registrar of Trademarks (the “Registrar”) that Limbic Media Corporation (“Limbic”) did not establish continuous use of its registered trademark and ordered the registration expunged. There was no evidence confirming that Limbic’s trademark was sufficiently associated with its goods at the time the goods

De novo appeal of a trademark expungement dismissed on the basis that new evidence did not demonstrate “use” Read More »

Blaze Fire’d Up Over Carbone’s Confusing Trademark Applications

IP Decisions, Trademarks /

In a decision by Fuhrer J., the Federal Court allowed an appeal against the Registrar’s decision to register a trademark owned by Carbone Restaurant Group Ltd. (“Carbone”), after the Trademarks Opposition Board (“TMOB”) had rejected an opposition by Blaze Pizza, LLC. (“Blaze”)   Blaze Pizza, LLC v. Carbone Restaurant Group Ltd., 2024 FC 1770 Background

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Ontario Place Wellness Development in Warm Water Over Trademark Use

IP Decisions /

Tsimberis J. of the Federal Court heard an application by Auberge & Spa Le Nordik Inc. and Nordik Immobiliers Winnipeg Inc. (“Nordik” or the “Applicants”) to have certain services expunged from trademark registrations held by Therme Development (CY) Ltd. (“TDL”). Auberge & Spa Le Nordik Inc. and Nordik Immobiliers Winnipeg Inc. v. Therme Development (CY)

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Causation and Other Factors to Consider in an Accounting of Profits

IP Decisions /

Lafrenière J. of the Federal Court, acting as a Referee in a reference under Rule 153(1) of the Federal Courts Rules,SOR/98-106 (“Rules”), recently issued an interim report on the quantification of profits made by Travelway Group International Ltd. (“Travelway”) through the sale of travel accessories including luggage (the “Infringing Products”) that were passed off as

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