This April, the United States Court of Appeals ruled that Sergey Aleynikov, former Goldman Sachs software developer-turned convicted thief and spy, was wrongly charged and convicted of theft and espionage under the rationale that software code is not physical property and thereby not subject to theft. This ruling sparks the debate about whether criminal courts […]
May 14, 2012 brings the latest attempt at copyright reform, Bill C-11 one step closer to fruition. Bill C-11 began with its Introduction and Initial Reading before the House in September of 2011, and is presently, as of May 14 2012, in its Report Stage. Otherwise known as Canada’s Copyright Modernization Act, Bill C-11 was […]
Using a quote that he attributes to Pablo Picasso, the late Steve Jobs stated in a 1994 interview that “good artists copy, great artists steal.” It seems somewhat ironic that Apple Inc., the company he co-founded, now finds itself in an entrenched legal battle with Samsung over a number of alleged patent and trademark infringements. The twist? […]
In celebration of Canadian Music Week, the IP Osgoode Speaker Series presented a panel discussion on “Copyright and the Music Industry” on March 22, 2012 featuring Robert Levine and Dr. Brett Danaher. Levine spoke about the current state of copyright and the public discourse surrounding it. He argued the need for more effective enforcement mechanisms […]
Each year, IP Osgoode awards prizes for contributions to our website by students of Osgoode Hall Law School. These Prizes are generously sponsored by the law firm of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP. All blogs submitted by Osgoode students (except IPilogue editors), that are published on the website, are also eligible to be considered for the Gowlings […]
We are pleased to announce that our very own Professor David Vaver, Professor of Intellectual Property at Osgoode Hall Law School and IP Osgoode Member, is the recipient of the 2012 Pattishall Medal for Teaching Excellence of Trademark and Trade Identity Subjects.
Access to information is generally important in a free and democratic society. It’s particularly important in the context of regulating drugs, medical devices, and other products. In Merck Frosst Canada Ltd. v. Canada (Health), the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed Health Canada’s decision to disclose certain information about Merck’s asthma medication Singulair®. The Court rejected […]
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 […]
Kalen Lumsden is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School York University, including Osgoode Hall Law School, has decided to opt-out of the interim copy tariff from Access Copyright, the copyright collective that manages permissions associated with photocopying and course kits. The current licence will end on August 31, 2011.
Leslie Chong is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. The European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) has ruled against the patentability of human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines and, in doing so, it has articulated the standard for acceptable practice in the use and commercial exploitation of stem-cell research in the EU.