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![When is a Trademark Registration Invalid- Registrability and Distinctiveness](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_ca5ce6fbbdd643f78e86f4aebca7b261~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_ca5ce6fbbdd643f78e86f4aebca7b261~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Feb 2, 20242 min read
When is a Trademark Registration Invalid- Registrability and Distinctiveness
Last month we discussed the grounds for attacking the registration of a registered trademark in the Federal Court. This month we are...
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![Key Trademark Decisions in 2023](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_7ec4ce38dc3d45519c29b901d9076178~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_7ec4ce38dc3d45519c29b901d9076178~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Jan 31, 20245 min read
Key Trademark Decisions in 2023
2023 has again been a difficult year for trademark owners and their advisors. Hopefully the impact of the pandemic is behind us, but we...
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![Notable Copyright Developments in 2023](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_0505272c7f494c5481399a9b143c8d44~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_0505272c7f494c5481399a9b143c8d44~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Jan 31, 202417 min read
Notable Copyright Developments in 2023
It has again been a busy year in the copyright world with important legislative changes and numerous decisions from the courts to...
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![A GUI can be Protected by Copyright as an Artistic Work!](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_052c6d5e5f2c4de29595905ecc8f9af4~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_052c6d5e5f2c4de29595905ecc8f9af4~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Jan 31, 20243 min read
A GUI can be Protected by Copyright as an Artistic Work!
A decision of the U.K. C.A. supports the position that copyright subsists in a graphic user interface (“GUI) produced by a computer...
60 views0 comments
![Three-Dimensional Marks and Utilitarian Function](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_8e05f3c7abcd42cbbc593fe986375bfc~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_8e05f3c7abcd42cbbc593fe986375bfc~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Jan 31, 20243 min read
Three-Dimensional Marks and Utilitarian Function
A decision of the General Court of the European Union is of interest concerning the prohibition in the Canadian Trademarks Act relating...
69 views0 comments
![The Deferential Nature of The Palpable and Overriding Error Standard Revisited](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_f31d59b890244c559d6745bf4eef08ac~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_f31d59b890244c559d6745bf4eef08ac~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Jan 31, 20243 min read
The Deferential Nature of The Palpable and Overriding Error Standard Revisited
The Facts The Applicant filed a trademark application to register the mark TRIBAL CHOCOLATE, for use in association hair care...
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![When is a Trademark Registration Invalid?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_887c42b3b5344d8c894d791a7f3666b8~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_887c42b3b5344d8c894d791a7f3666b8~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Jan 8, 20242 min read
When is a Trademark Registration Invalid?
Section 18 of the Trademarks Act provides that the registration of the trademark is invalid if: a) the trademark was not registrable at...
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![How to Use a Trademark Notice](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_03ed35af3c1941c2ac962c221b940ad8~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_03ed35af3c1941c2ac962c221b940ad8~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Dec 5, 20232 min read
How to Use a Trademark Notice
Using a trademark notice is permissive but prudent. A brand owner should use the notification™ or the French equivalent MC to identify...
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![DIEGO MARADONA and An Ineffective Trademark Assignment](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_5f89443ba270445e9bf69cca78adca1d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_5f89443ba270445e9bf69cca78adca1d~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Nov 22, 20234 min read
DIEGO MARADONA and An Ineffective Trademark Assignment
A battle for control of the trademark DIEGO MARADONA has been shaping up. Maradona was a famous soccer player. In July of 2001 he applied...
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![A Polo Club in a Crowded Market](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_21c389487a7c465d910346e8e91e00ea~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_21c389487a7c465d910346e8e91e00ea~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Nov 21, 20234 min read
A Polo Club in a Crowded Market
A recent decision of the UK High Court of Justice deals with the scope of protection to be given to a registered trademark used in a...
23 views0 comments
![The Same Old Song](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_3d8fbe71df604da1964cb5b17b8d41d2~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_3d8fbe71df604da1964cb5b17b8d41d2~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Nov 21, 20234 min read
The Same Old Song
2572495 Ontario Inc., carrying on business as Vacuum Parts Canada (VPC), sought an interlocutory injunction to stop the defendants from...
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![What is Authorizing Copyright Infringement?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_310747a63b544137956b065b55c54a64~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_310747a63b544137956b065b55c54a64~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Nov 21, 20235 min read
What is Authorizing Copyright Infringement?
The Federal Court of Appeal has made it more difficult to assert rights against defendants alleged to have made copies of the films...
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![Copyright decisions fall 2023](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_6e3a27b66fba4ce69a9bc39c748da25e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_6e3a27b66fba4ce69a9bc39c748da25e~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Nov 14, 20237 min read
Copyright decisions fall 2023
In this blog entry we deal with copyright developments in the last few months. The Online Streaming Act. The Government (Department of...
16 views0 comments
![Effect of Registration](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_d7c6a064c8ab4f22a9c22564dddce5fc~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_d7c6a064c8ab4f22a9c22564dddce5fc~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Oct 31, 20232 min read
Effect of Registration
Subject to the right to descriptive use under section 20 of the Trademarks Act and other more limited restrictions, the registration of a...
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![Registration of a Trademark](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_7ca64a014b6b43d788b34280640f49e1~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_7ca64a014b6b43d788b34280640f49e1~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Oct 3, 20232 min read
Registration of a Trademark
This month we are discussing the process for obtaining a registration and problems with the system. Under the current Trademarks Act when...
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![“Bad Faith” as a Ground of Opposition](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_87f2717414ee46ab93efdb4a8d53fb7f~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_87f2717414ee46ab93efdb4a8d53fb7f~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Sep 15, 20234 min read
“Bad Faith” as a Ground of Opposition
A decision of the Federal Court has dismissed an appeal from a decision of the Trademark Opposition Broad. (Spirit Bear Coffee Company...
113 views0 comments
![When Can a Mark be Protected as a Geographical Indication?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_985fea1c8361486d8680ebec04734d5c~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_985fea1c8361486d8680ebec04734d5c~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Sep 15, 20233 min read
When Can a Mark be Protected as a Geographical Indication?
A decision of the General Court of the European Union raises some interesting considerations concerning protecting a geographical...
52 views0 comments
![Protecting the Bitcoin File Format](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_3e5fa3abea8d476a970c0514861915f2~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_3e5fa3abea8d476a970c0514861915f2~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Sep 15, 20234 min read
Protecting the Bitcoin File Format
A decision of the UK Court of Appeal has found that copyright likely subsists in the Bitcoin File Format and provides a detailed summary...
27 views0 comments
![15% or 20% longer Lasting](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_9af3afc800c5420cb6636a151d053b2d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_9af3afc800c5420cb6636a151d053b2d~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Sep 13, 20234 min read
15% or 20% longer Lasting
A recent decision of the Federal Court provides a detailed review of alleged comparative advertising. Energizer Brands, LLC v. Gillette...
49 views0 comments
![Territorial Extension under the Madrid Protocol to Canada](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2779b2_9d199a89fe904abdacd8ae73d64b2e29~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/2779b2_9d199a89fe904abdacd8ae73d64b2e29~mv2.webp)
johnmckeownblog
Sep 6, 20234 min read
Territorial Extension under the Madrid Protocol to Canada
In our previous blog Madrid Protocal Applications we discussed applications for an International Registration where the Canadian...
19 views0 comments
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