Design
The Toronto Housing Market Just Got Crazier!
Although the Toronto housing market may be constantly scrutinized by the Canadian media, it is not often that a copyright infringement case becomes a matter for public consumption. However, the Toronto Star published an Article reporting a settlement between homeowners regarding the alleged infringement of an architectural work.[1] Despite settling, the facts highlight two common […]
US Design Law Still Decorated with 1880’s Era Carpeting
Under the provisions of the United States Patent Act, the sale of “any article of manufacture” to which an infringing design has been applied makes the infringer liable “to the extent of his total profit” with respect to the article of manufacture. In other words, the language of the Act specifically bars apportionment of an […]
Privacy by Default: A Privacy and Cyber-security imperative in the IoT and Big-Data Age
The rapid growth of big data technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) devices mandates the modernization of the Canadian privacy legislation, which establishes protection from both private companies and government agencies. The necessity of the upcoming reforms to the Canadian Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Privacy Act was illustrated during […]
What Makes It My Molecule: A Look at Professor Ronald Pearlman’s Genome Editing Work
This past November, Professor Ronald E. Pearlman from York University’s Department of Biology gave a talk [1] at Osgoode Hall Law School to discuss the potential of the innovative CRISPR genome editing system. Central to the talk was the evolving nature of genome editing technology and the ethical concerns that come with its growing breadth of […]
Pole Vault in Rio 2016: A Contest of Skill or a Contest of Patents?
With the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics getting started on August 5th, there is no time like the present to explore the evolution of patents relating to the vaulting pole. Originally, pole vaulting was a practical way to cross obstacles, such as rivers or enemy walls. Inevitably, this led to competitions among Ancient Greeks, Cretans and Celts. […]
What Would You Do For a KitKat Bar?
Is there any chocolate bar more recognizable than the KitKat? Maybe, but that does not make it special according to the recent decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) in Société des Produits Nestlé SA v Cadbury UK Ltd [Nestlé]. Nestlé has produced the KitKat chocolate bar for over 80 years. In 2010, the company filed an application […]