One of the most obvious and important principles of intellectual property law is that you need a unique trademark to obtain legal protection of the mark and to avoid infringement liability. However, in a recent Supreme Court case we discussed on our blog late last...
Because The Tragically Hip long ago secured its place among Canada’s musical legends, the band has a legacy to protect. It appears that that is exactly what the group originally from Kingston, Ontario, is trying to do with its lawsuit alleging trademark infringement...
The stars might be aligning for the cannabis industry in 2021. Five more U.S. states legalized marijuana in the November election (bringing the total to 15), the new administration is perceived to be friendlier to the industry and in recognition of marijuana’s...
After you have put in the considerable time and effort needed to develop an invention, you file a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and wait. And wait some more. The USPTO says the average wait for patent approval is 22.9 months, or...
There is an almost infinitely long list of important things to consider, plan for and do before you open a microbrewery. Rather than attempt to compile that impossibly long list, we’re going to focus here on the name of your establishment and whether you will be able...
The U.S. has long been the world’s biggest exporter of pop culture. Both the present and past of U.S. TV programming is available on screens around the planet. For instance, SpongeBob SquarePants is apparently popular in Mexico, South Korea and Brazil, among other...
In the 1950s, artists such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard fused blues, gospel and country music to create a raw new form of music called rock ‘n’ roll. Kindred spirits of rebellion and innovation are evident in the craft breweries that are taking on an alcohol...
Businesses often focus on protecting tangible property but may forget that intangible assets like intellectual property are just as important to protect, if not more so. Why is this the case? Maybe people may think that tangible protections are easier to understand,...
As a pandemic-weary nation limps into the holiday season, a surge in coronavirus cases has hospitals, clinics and nursing facilities in some places scrambling to maintain critical supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). Brig. Gen. David Sanford sought to calm...
A good map of Ontario’s wine-producing regions might color the Niagara Peninsula royal purple, with a swath of plum along the north shore of Lake Erie, a tiny patch of periwinkle for Pelee Island and a brilliant violet filling in the irregular contours of Prince...
