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johnmckeownblog
Jul 4, 20222 min read
Social Media Influencers
Influencer marketing is very popular with brand owners in a social media context and grew significantly when the pandemic led performers...
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johnmckeownblog
May 31, 20224 min read
When is a Trademark “Clearly Descriptive”?
The Federal Court has confirmed that the Trademark Opposition Board was correct when it found that the trademark HALLMARK in association...
89 views0 comments
johnmckeownblog
May 11, 20222 min read
Take Down Policies and Social Media Sites
Once a trademark owner has identified infringing content on a social media site, an assessment must be made concerning the steps the...
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johnmckeownblog
Mar 4, 20222 min read
Hashtags
A hashtag is a type of label used on numerous social media sites, which makes it easier for users to find messages with a specific theme...
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johnmckeownblog
Jan 5, 20222 min read
What Should Brands Consider When Using Social Media?
The emergence of social media sites such as Meta (formerly Facebook), Twitter and Instagram has materially affected brand owners. These...
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johnmckeownblog
Nov 19, 20215 min read
Comparative Advertising and Section 22 of the Trademarks Act
A recent decision of the Quebec Court of Appeal illustrates the rather unexpected ways that the Trademarks Act can apply to comparative...
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johnmckeownblog
Nov 19, 20216 min read
Word Games
A recent U.K. decision illustrates that the determination of whether two competing trademarks are confusing involves considerable...
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johnmckeownblog
Oct 13, 20212 min read
Search Engine Rankings
What are they? Search Engine Ranking refers to the process search engines use to determine where a particular piece of content should...
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johnmckeownblog
Sep 2, 20213 min read
Keywords In Online Advertising
Search engine advertising is a multi-billion-dollar industry in the United States. The major search engine operators sell keywords to...
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johnmckeownblog
Aug 10, 20213 min read
What is a Metatag? Can Claims Be Asserted For Their Misuse?
A metatag is a computer code included on a website that is invisible to an individual but which enables a search engine or a web browser...
63 views0 comments
johnmckeownblog
Jul 19, 20212 min read
Pop-Up Advertisements and Mouse Trapping
Pop-up Advertisements Pop-up advertisements are used to catch consumer’s attention. A pop-up advertisement is a window not initiated by a...
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johnmckeownblog
May 7, 20212 min read
Criticism or Gripe Sites
There have been a number of cases both in the courts and under the UDRP and CDRP involving parody sites or sites for critical commentary....
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johnmckeownblog
Apr 11, 20215 min read
Protecting Fashion Goods in Canada
A decision of the English High Court, [2020] EWHC 3032 recently released, shows how protection can be obtained for fashion goods....
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johnmckeownblog
Apr 11, 20213 min read
The Importance of Obtaining a Trademark Registration
A decision of the Federal Court of Appeal, released on December 9, 2020, Group III International Ltd. v. Travelway Group International...
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johnmckeownblog
Apr 11, 20214 min read
Licensing Trademarks
A decision of the British Columbia Court of Appeal [2020] BCCA 323 raises concerns regarding trademark licensing. Basic Requirements To...
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johnmckeownblog
Apr 11, 20214 min read
Trademark Infringement Concerning an App
A recent decision of a Judge of the English High Court [2020] EWHC 713 provides a possible approach to the enforcement of trademark...
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johnmckeownblog
Apr 11, 20213 min read
Trademark Use by an Affiliate
A recent decision of the Federal Court of Appeal clarifies when the use of a trademark by an affiliate of the trademark owner accrues to...
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johnmckeownblog
Apr 11, 20212 min read
What is Cybersquatting and Cyberpiracy?
Cybersquatting Cybersquatting occurs when a third party registers a domain name consisting of, or similar to, a brand name to which they...
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johnmckeownblog
Apr 11, 20214 min read
Obtaining Trademark Registrations for Domain Names
A recent decision of the US Supreme Court has attracted significant publicity. In the decision, the court disagreed with the USPTO and...
4 views0 comments
johnmckeownblog
Apr 11, 20213 min read
Computer Games and Cheat Software
A recent decision of the High Court of Justice in the United Kingdom considered the use of cheat software for the video game called Grand...
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