Markwell Clarizio LLP

intellectual property

New Owner Jurisprudence – FCA Accepts a Flexible Interpretation of Section 45 of the Trademarks Act

In a decision issued January 9, 2026, the Federal Court of Appeal (per LeBlanc JA, Roussel JA, and Heckman JA) (“FCA”) upheld the Federal Court’s (“FC”) decision to maintain three of Coors Brewing Company’s (“Coors”) trademark registrations related to beer products (collectively “the Trademarks”). The FC had held there were special circumstances that excused the […]

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Patients Are A Relevant Consumer in the Trademark Confusion Analysis For Biosimilars

Co-authored with Emily Johnston On November 28, 2025, the Federal Court of Appeal (Per Woods JA and Laskin JA) (“FCA”) held that the Federal Court (per Pallotta J) (“FC”) did not err in (1) enjoining Samsung Bioepis (“Samsung”) and Biogen, et al (collectively “Biogen”), as well as their licensees, from using the trademark BYOOVIZ in

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Federal Court Goes All-In on Claim Construction in Assessing Patentable Subject Matter

Co-authored with Adam Haller On November 12, 2025, the Federal Court (per Whyte Nowak J.) held that the Commissioner of Patents (the “Commissioner”) made several errors of law in finding that an application for a “Method for Playing a Card Game” did not qualify as patentable subject matter under the Patent Act. The Court remitted

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Common Design Infringement Finds its Footing in Canada

In the latest chapter of the Adeia Guides Inc. (formerly “Rovi”) (“Adeia”) and Videotron Ltd. (“Videotron”) patent infringement battle, Adeia alleged that Videotron infringed four patents within the same family related to digital entertainment technologies. Videotron denied infringement and counterclaimed for invalidity on the basis of anticipation, obviousness, and in the case of one patent,

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The FCA Digs Into Downhole Hydraulic Fracturing Patent

Co-authored by Delara Emtyazi (Student-at-Law) In a decision issued October 20, 2025, the Federal Court of Appeal (per Walker J.A. with Stratas J.A. and Monaghan J.A. concurring) (“FCA”) held that the Federal Court (per McVeigh J) erred in construing the claims of Kobold Corporation’s (“Kobold”) Canadian Patent No. 3,027,571 (“‘571 Patent”) and as a result,

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Timing is Everything: FCA Affirms OSIP’s Timing Interpretation in Patent Register Dispute

  On August 8, 2025, the Federal Court of Appeal (“FCA”) held that Amgen Inc. (“Amgen”), a biosimilar manufacturer, was not required to address Bayer Inc.’s (“Bayer”) newly issued patent (the “315 Patent”) for EYLEA (aflibercept) under the PM(NOC) Regulations because it had not been added to the Patent Register when Amgen’s New Drug Submission

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McCain’s Patent Action Zapped By Pulsed Electric Field

On June 13, 2025, the Federal Court (per McHaffie J) held that J.R. Simplot Company (“Simplot”) did not infringe a patent owned by McCain Foods (“McCain”) by applying an electric field to uncooked potatoes before cutting them into French fries. McCain owned Canadian Patent No. 2,412,841 (“Patent”) until its expiry in 2021. The Patent claimed

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Summary Judgment Denied in a Riveting Rosie Copyright Battle

Co-authored by Dino Clarizio On January 31, 2025, the Federal Court (per Gascon J.) dismissed a motion for summary judgment in a copyright infringement action involving a “Rosie the Riveter” design because the moving party failed to prove that there was no “genuine issue” for trial. The Court found that, on the facts and law,

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Importance of Brand Strength: The Arc of Confusion in Physio Health Trademark

On February 14, 2025, the Federal Court (per Fuhrer J.) found that Joanna Habbous, owner of the registered trademark PHYSIOHEALTH STUDIOS, had established infringement, passing off, and depreciation of goodwill against Arc Physio Health Ltd. The application was, however, dismissed against the named personal Respondents. Habbous v. Arc Physio Health Ltd., 2025 FC 297 Background Ms.

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