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Application v. Action
Two decisions in the Federal Court illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of proceeding by way of application in the Federal Court....
John McKeown
Sep 17, 20244 min read


The Summary Nature of Section 45 Proceedings
Another battle concerning trademark use in the context of section 45 proceedings has occurred. The respondent spared no effort in...
John McKeown
Sep 17, 20243 min read


Get it in Writing!
A recent decision of the Federal Court illustrates the importance of having a clear understanding and a written agreement concerning who...
John McKeown
Sep 16, 20244 min read


Common Law Trademark Rights
A decision of the Federal Court expunged the registration of a trademark under section 57 of the Trademarks Act based on the applicant’s...
John McKeown
Sep 12, 20246 min read


How to Determine When Trademarks are Confusing? – Part 5
We previously mentioned the statutory factors. Now is the time to deal with them in more detail. Duration of Use The second factor to be...
John McKeown
Sep 6, 20243 min read


How to Determine When Trademarks are Confusing? – Part 4
We previously mentioned the statutory factors. Now is the time to deal with them in more detail. Inherent Distinctiveness The first...
John McKeown
Aug 1, 20242 min read


Copyright decisions to date in 2024
In this blog entry we deal with copyright developments in the last few months. Too Early to Draw an Adverse Inference Voltage Holdings,...
John McKeown
Jul 22, 202411 min read


The Importance of Being the First to Use a Trademark
A recent decision of the Federal Court illustrates the importance of being the first to use a trademark. F.I.A.L. Finanziaria Industrie...
John McKeown
Jul 16, 20243 min read


The Consequences of Being the First Link in the Chain of Distribution
Patagonia, Inc. caused the Registrar to issue a notice under section 45 of the Trademarks Act, requiring the Labatt Brewing Company...
John McKeown
Jul 16, 20243 min read


How to Use State of the Register Evidence
A decision of the Federal Court illustrates the impact of state of Register use in opposition proceedings. Mécanique de performance...
John McKeown
Jul 15, 20243 min read


How Not To Set Up a Start Up
Wanakome Inc. (Wanakome) is a Canadian corporation and Kemel Hadad (Hadad) was the controlling shareholder. Wanakome applied in...
John McKeown
Jul 15, 20243 min read


How to Determine When Trademarks are Confusing? – Part 3
This month we are continuing to discuss the general approach to trademark confusion. We previously discussed the statutory factors set...
John McKeown
Jun 28, 20242 min read


How to Determine When Trademarks are Confusing? – Part 2
This month we are continuing to discuss the general approach to trademark confusion. In determining whether trademarks or trade names are...
John McKeown
Jun 4, 20242 min read


Hope Springs Eternal
It may not be a prudent course of action to institute an opposition that exposes the opponent’s problems to scrutiny. D.M.C. SRL v....
John McKeown
May 14, 20244 min read


Not a Good Day for the Use of Survey Evidence in Trademark Cases
The Facts Promotion in Motion, Inc. (PIM), PIM sought to register the trademarks SWISSKISS and SWISSKISS & Design depicted below for the...
John McKeown
May 14, 20246 min read


The Importance of the Use of Colour in a Trademark and Presenting the Right Evidence at Trial
The English Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal from the trial judgment which raised some interesting trademark and branding issues....
John McKeown
May 13, 20244 min read


Targeting and Infringement by Selling Goods on the Internet
An essential feature of trademark law is that it provides only territorial protection to the proprietor of a mark in the territory or...
John McKeown
May 13, 20244 min read


How to Determine When Trademarks are Confusing? - Part1
Last month we discussed the importance of “confusion” from a brand owner’s point of view. This month we are discussing the general...
John McKeown
May 3, 20242 min read


Why is Confusion so Important to a Brand Owner?
A brand name may be protected by obtaining a trademark registration. A brand name may also be protected, directly or indirectly, by...
John McKeown
Apr 3, 20243 min read


In Oppositions the Onus is on the Parties to file the Right evidence at the Right Time
The Applicant applied to register the trademark Divert NS (the Mark) in association with various services related to waste diversion and...
John McKeown
Mar 22, 20244 min read
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