Book Review - Intellectual Property Law: Copyright, Patents, Trade-Marks, 2nd Ed.

Teresa Scassa is the Canada Research Chair in Information Law at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. The publication of the second edition of David Vaver’s Intellectual Property Law: Copyright, Patents, Trade-Marks is a welcome event. The first edition of this book, published in 1997,was a lucid and concise account of the three main […]

Book Review - Intellectual Property Law: Copyright, Patents, Trade-marks, 2nd Ed.

Hashim Ghazi is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. Professor David Vaver’s Intellectual Property Law: Copyright, Patents, Trade-Marks, 2nd ed., takes up where the first edition left off, providing a complete and informative review of intellectual property law in Canada. David Vaver is the Professor of IP Law at Osgoode Hall Law School […]

Targeting the Target Name in Canada

Nora Sleeth is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. On May 2, 2011, Target Corporation and Fairweather Ltd. went to court disputing the rights to the Target name in Canada. While Target Corporation plans to open its doors to Canadian consumers in 2013, Fairweather’s Target Apparel hopes to remain the only Target in […]

Same Bat Marks, Same Batmobile – And That’s the Problem

Brent Randall is a JD candidate at the University of Ottawa. DC Comics, owner of the Batman character, filed a lawsuit on May 6, 2011, alleging infringement of its copyright and trade-mark rights over the Batmobile.  The suit, filed in California, alleges that the named defendant, Mark Towle, is selling imitation Batmobile vehicles as well […]

Custody Over the Bratz: Mattel v. MGA, Round Two

Leslie Chong is a JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. The legal battle between Mattel and MGA Entertainment, Inc. has come one step closer to ending. Despite the seven-year legal saga between Mattel (owner of the classic Barbie doll) and MGA Entertainment (owner of the modern pouty-lipped Bratz dolls), the latter has come out […]

Vivienne Westwood Knocks Out Knock-Off

Leslie Chong is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. Following a judgment from the England and Wales Patent County Court, fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood successfully sued internet clothing provider Anthony Edward Knight for trademark and copyright infringement. The decision carefully detailed each of Westwood’s claims against Mr. Knight, which effectively shows how […]

Red Hot: Fashion Designers Wage War over Shoes

 Ashlee Froese is an Osgoode Hall alumnus and currently practices intellectual property at the law firm of Keyser Mason Ball LLP. If you see a woman wearing these shoes, three things can be deduced.  One, she spent a pretty penny on them.  Two, those are Christian Louboutin shoes.  Three, the surrounding women are a tad […]

‘The Arrow Principle’ and Fictional Trademarks

Leslie Chong is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. Benjamin Arrow’s article “Real-Life Protection for Fictional Trademarks” addresses the issues that arise when real-life companies attempt to exploit trademarks established in fictional worlds. Dubbed by commentators as “The Arrow Principle”, the author suggests that, as the use of the brand shifts from the […]

Public Opinions Brewing Over Starbucks Logo Change

Leslie Chong is a J.D. candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. Starbucks has recently proposed a newly revamped logo to represent their company – a seemingly simple change that has prompted much furor among their loyal customers and business commentators alike. This coming March, the company’s logo will cease to include the words “Starbucks Coffee” […]

Warning Labels Threaten Tobacco Trade-marks – Or do They?

Dan Whalen is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School In late December, industry leader British American Tobacco won permission in Australian courts to pursue damages against a local importer for infringing upon one of its product’s trademarks by covering its packaging with health warnings labels. While the importer conceded that the labels may […]