Canadian IP Voices podcast, case studies and blog
Find podcasts, case studies, blogs and success stories to demystify the world of IP!
Podcast
Canadian IP Voices is a podcast series where we discuss tips, tricks and issues to help Canadian businesses grow and succeed, and explore the bigger picture of how trademarks, patents, copyrights, industrial designs and trade secrets work in real life. To receive new episodes as they become available, subscribe to the IP podcast through:
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Episode 37: What innovators need to know about the Competition Bureau |
 Date and length of podcast: 28:01 min |
Alan Gunderson, senior economist and coordinator at the Economic Analysis Directorate at the Competition Bureau explains the Bureau’s mandate and actions when it comes to intellectual property. Explore online: |
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Episode 36: How does IP fit into the world of scientific research and experimental development? |
 Date and length of podcast: March 06, 2024 30:25 min |
David Arsenault, Atlantic Regional Manager for the Canada Revenue Agency's Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program, demystifies the parallel worlds of R&D and IP from an SR&ED tax incentive program perspective. Explore online:
Learn more about SR&ED eligibility guidelines: |
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Episode 35: How is I.P. managed when the government funds you to innovate? |
 Date and length of podcast: February 05, 2024 23:23 min |
Grant Lynds, a senior advisor on IP matters from the IP Centre of Expertise, sheds light on the role of this group and how IP considerations are addressed in government funding agreements. Explore online: |
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Episode 34: How to use IP for financing |
 Date and length of podcast: January 03, 2024 43:45 min |
Kiriakoula Hatzikiriakos, Manager-Senior Legal Counsel in the Commercial/International sector of Legal Affairs at the National Bank of Canada, explains the rules and challenges of using IP as a collateral for funding. Explore online: |
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Episode 33: How do you know what your I.P. is worth? |
 Date and length of podcast: December 04, 2023 25:33 min
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Transcript link Download link |
Lawyer and IP expert Sylvain Roy discusses key considerations in IP valuation. Explore online: |
Episode 32: How to protect things that aren't formal IP rights |
 Date and length of podcast: October 31, 2023 23:32 min |
Seasoned IP litigator, Elizabeth Dipchand, unravels the intricacies and importance of protecting unregistered intellectual assets, managing relationships, documenting agreements and navigating the nuanced landscape where registered and unregistered rights intersect. Explore online: |
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Episode 31: How IP saved the Canadian icon Cirque du Soleil |
 Date and length of podcast: October 4, 2023 12:29 min |
Daniel Lamarre, Executive Vice Chairman of the Board, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, explains the critical role IP played for Cirque du Soleil during the pandemic. Explore online:
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Episode 30: Why IP is important: Insights from an IP advisor |
 Date and length of podcast: September 6, 2023 28:43 min |
André Gallant, one of CIPO's IP advisors, talks about how IP advisors break myths and highlights opportunities and risks around IP and IP protection. Explore online:
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Episode 29: How the unitary patent and the Unified Patent Court work |
 Date and length of podcast: July 5, 2023 25:18 min |
Anthony Dearden explains how the new unitary patent and Unified Patent Court in Europe will work and shares some key considerations for anyone applying for patents in Europe. Explore online: |
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Episode 28: How to apply for a patent in the U.S. and other countries |
 Date and length of podcast: June 7, 2023 21:29 min |
Dominique Lambert, a patent agent at Bereskin & Parr, explains how the provisional patent in the U.S. works and how to apply for patent protection abroad using the PCT. |
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Episode 27: How not to spend money on bad patents |
 Date and length of podcast: April 19, 2023 38:06 min |
Louis Carbonneau, a patent broker who evaluates hundreds of patents for clients each year, shares some tips and tricks on where to spend the money to ensure you file for valuable IP rights. Explore online:
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Episode 26: Who owns AI-generated creations (and why you should care) |
 Date and length of podcast: March 1, 2023 31:53 min |
Guillaume Lavoie Ste-Marie, copyright, patent and trademark litigator and principal at Smart & Biggar in Montreal, talks about ChatGPT, intellectual property (IP) tips and traps that artificial intelligence (AI) users should be aware of before creating works with AI—and if using AI to answer IP questions is a good idea. |
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Episode 25: Is your IP future-proof? How to think like an in-house IP counsel |
 Date and length of podcast: February 1, 2023 17:06 min |
Robert Guay, director of IP at Shopify, shares some ideas and insights on how to think like a pro when it comes to patents. Explore online: |
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Episode 24: How IP rights saved my business |
 Date and length of podcast: January 4, 2023 12:41 min |
Johanne Boivin, expert advisor at Point Cardinal and former CEO or executive vice-president shares her story of how IP saved her business. Explore online: |
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Episode 23: FIFA World Cup special: How FIFA protects its intellectual property |
 Date and length of podcast: December 7, 2022 20:43 min |
Julie Jones and Raed AlHout explain how the FIFA head office in Switzerland and officials in Qatar protect FIFA IP assets before and during the World Cup. Explore online: |
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Episode 22: What is the difference between a corporate name, trade name, brand name and domain name? |
 Date and length of podcast: November 2, 2022 23:53 min |
Martin Lacelle from Corporations Canada and lawyer James Plotkin clarify the differences between and importance of legal/trade/brand/domain names. Explore online: |
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Episode 21: How do incubators/accelerators support innovators and their IP? |
 Date and length of podcast: October 5, 2022 20:06 min |
Josée Pharand, Director of IP Programs and Policies at ventureLAB, explains how ventureLAB supports innovators and their IP in the Canadian innovation ecosystem. Tune in for a discussion about choosing between patents and trade secrets, and learn how many accelerators and incubators help companies grow without asking for any stake in their IP, equity or future revenues. Discover online: https://www.venturelab.ca/news/intellectual-property-101 |
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Episode 20: How traditional brands and IP rights are entering the metaverse |
 Date and length of podcast: June 22, 2022 20:47 min |
Brigitte Chan, lawyer and trademark agent discusses what IP professionals are observing as real brands are going virtual in a fictional universe; the metaverse. Explore online: |
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Episode 19: How plant breeders' rights are protected in Canada |
 Date and length of podcast: June 8, 2022 31:07 min |
Anthony Parker, Commissioner of the Plant Breeders' Rights Office within the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, explains the development of plant breeders' rights, how they are examined and how they function in Canada. Explore online: |
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Episode 18: Powered by Haloo: How artificial intelligence systems can be used to prepare trademark registration applications |
 Date and length of podcast: May 25, 2022 25:56 min |
Julie MacDonell, Co-founder and CEO of Haloo discusses the importance of trademarks and how artificial intelligence is used at Haloo to partially replace manual searching in the trademark registration application process. Explore online: Learn more about trademarks and what the rules are concerning what can and cannot be registered at www.cipo.gc.ca/tm-guide Read our related blog post on Julie MacDonell. |
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Episode 17: How IP is managed in the academic sector |
 Date and length of podcast: May 11, 2022 23:17 min |
Mark Weber, director of Innovation and Partnerships at McGill University, explains why and how a university manages intellectual property. Explore online: |
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Episode 16: Best practices for using open source software |
 Date and length of podcast: April 27, 2022 46:18 min |
Jules Gaudin, of ROBIC, explains some of the pitfalls and best practices for users and providers of open source software. Explore online: Snyk: Tool to help you find and fix vulnerabilities in the code of your open source content. Open source guides: Guides and information on open source topics like how to contribute to or launch an open source project and how to build an open source community. Licence open source et bonnes pratiques: Webinar with lawyer Jules Gaudin (in French). Read our related blog post about open source software. |
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Episode 15: How to protect training data used in the creation of AI systems |
 Date and length of podcast: April 13, 2022 31:08 min |
Artificial Intelligence experts and in-house counsels Paul Gagnon and Misha Benjamin talk about the rights and limitations of IP protection for data used in the creation of artificial intelligence systems. Explore online: Towards Standardization of Data Licenses: The Montreal Data License, a scholarly paper providing a taxonomy for the licensing of data in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Read our related blog post about understanding AI. |
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Episode 14: Intangible assets at risk: How to get cyber smart |
 Date and length of podcast: March 30, 2022 25:04 min |
Nigel Russell, policy analyst and CyberSecure Canada advisor, explains the importance of understanding cyber security and the steps you can take to keep your digital intellectual property safe. Explore online: Canadian Centre for Cyber Security: Toolkits on cyber security, small business guides to cyber security, access to cyber security experts. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Access to cybercrime police services, guidance on post-cyber crime recovery. |
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Episode 13: What exactly is a patent? |
 Date and length of podcast: March 16, 2022 27:53 min |
Beatrice Sze, patent examiner at CIPO, explains the cornerstones of patents and what you need to know if you're considering filing a patent application. Explore online: Learn more about patents. |
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Episode 12: How can a CIPO IP advisor help you with your IP? |
 Date and length of podcast: March 2, 2022 17:42 min |
Caroline Lefebvre, IP advisor, explains the free services and information offered by CIPO IP advisors across Canada. CIPO IP advisors help SMEs and entrepreneurs understand the strategic value of their IP and can provide information and guidance for developing their business's IP strategy. Explore online: Learn about IP in our online Discover IP course and use this checklist to explore the different types of IP you could exploit |
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Episode 11: How to play someone's music on-site and online |
 Date and length of podcast: February 16, 2022 25:48 min |
James Leacock, Director of Royalty Collections at Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) explains how music composers and performers are paid and the steps to take to play music in online or in a business venue. Explore online: Visit SOCAN (collects/distributes royalties for music creators and visual artists) Entandem (licensing of on-site music use). Read our related blog post about using someone else's music in business. |
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Episode 10: Intellectual property in the Cannabis industry |
 Date and length of podcast: February 2, 2022 16:28 min |
Catherine Lemay, assistant general counsel-IP at Hexo reveals how various IP rights are used in an industry that was created over night and also things to consider if you have an invention you think may be worth something. Explore online: Educate yourself about IP and how to use it effectively. |
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Episode 9: Behind the scenes: Experiences (and hints) from a patent examiner |
 Date and length of podcast: January 19, 2022 13:04 min |
Marie-Claude Gagnon, patent examiner at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, explains the examination process and why it's important to disclose the right amount of information at the start of the application process. Explore online: Find an IP agent, Working at CIPO |
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Episode 8: How copyright works when we share things on social media |
 Date and length of podcast: January 5, 2022 25:21 min |
A copyright lawyer at Bereskin & Parr LLP explains some of the complexities of copyright and sharing content on social media as well as ways to minimize the risk of infringing someone else's copyright. Explore online: Learn more about copyright Read our related blog post on protecting your IP online. |
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Episode 7: How illustrators help applicants show how an invention works |
 Date and length of podcast: December 22, 2021 14:50 min |
Darpan Patel, technical illustrator and former patent draftsman, explains the work involved in creating illustrations of designs and inventions. Explore online: Search the patent database to view patents with illustrations |
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Episode 6: How to deal with pirate (fake) copies in the marketplace |
 Date and length of podcast: December 7, 2021 23:08 min |
Lawyer Lorne Lipkus talks about the multi-faceted problems with pirate copies and what you can do to stop them. Professionals, parents and kids – we're all involved. Explore online: Report illegal activities to Crimestoppers or contact the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre Read our related blog post on how to deal with counterfeit copies in the marketplace. |
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Episode 5: How to protect your videogames |
 Date and length of podcast: November 24, 2021 30:42 min |
Lawyer and trademark agent Michael Shortt explains the IP rights and associated contracts that form the cornerstones in the videogaming industry and some of the related laws and rights that videogames should be aware of. Explore online: Video and computer games industry blog posts and bulletins from Michael and colleagues. To learn more about videogame publishing contracts, you can watch Mr. Shortt's presentation on that topic. Read our related blog post on protecting IP in video games. |
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Episode 4: How to jumpstart intellectual property protection in Canada's artificial intelligence ecosystem |
 Date and length of podcast: October 29, 2021 16:02 min |
In this episode, Todd Bailey, Chief IP Officer at the Scale AI supercluster reflects on some of the challenges and solutions related to IP protection in Canada's AI (artificial intelligence) ecosystem (and it's not IP). Explore online: Check out Todd's blog IP Without Jargon for some straight talk and steps for protecting IP. Read our related blog post on how to jumpstart IP protection in Canada's AI ecosystem. |
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Episode 3: How to stop counterfeit products at the border |
 Date and length of podcast: October 29, 2021 12:16 min |
Becky Illson-Skinner, Senior Program Advisor and Program and Policy Lead for the Intellectual Property Rights Program at the Canadian Border Services Agency, explains how the Canadian Border Services Agency helps IP rights holders stop counterfeit products at the Canadian border. Explore online: File a request for assistance (from the Canadian Border Services Agency) Read our related blog post on how to stop counterfeit products at the border. |
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Episode 2: Protect your IP in Amazon stores |
 Date and length of podcast: October 29, 2021 17:49 min |
In this episode, we discuss the importance of using an IP agent and the strategies to ensure your IP is protected and monetized. In this episode, Mary Beth Westmoreland Amazon's VP of Brand Protection, talks about what Amazon does to protect sellers and their IP against bad actors online and what new sellers need to know before they start selling their products online on amazon.ca. Explore online: Protect your IP in Amazon stores (from amazon.ca) Read our related blog post on how to protect your IP in Amazon stores. |
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Episode 1: Why use an IP agent? |
 Date and length of podcast: October 29, 2021 15:15 min |
Patent and Trademark Agent Louis Martineau explains what IP agents help their clients with and answers some of the most common questions he gets as he helps his clients file for IP protection. Explore online: Meeting with an IP Professional (from Intellectual Property Institute of Canada) Read our related blog post on what IP agents do. |
Case studies
The IP Case Studies are teaching tools designed for college and university students that aim to:
- give students a baseline knowledge of IP
- foster classroom discussion of the use of IP in the inventive process
- explain how IP can be a competitive advantage in business
- reflect realistic career situations for students, particularly those studying engineering, science, business, and industrial design.
The case study package includes the case study text, a discussion leader's guide and an outline for classroom discussions. Using a 60-90 minute in-class discussion format, each case study can be easily integrated into an existing course. Upon request, and when available, a trained Discussion Leader is available to support the delivery of the materials for free.
Videos
IP Case Studies Summaries
For more information, or to schedule a case study in your class, please email ic.casestudies-etudesdecas.ic@canada.ca.
John Thomson - How to market an invention
John Thomson is a young entrepreneur and community college graduate. He owns and operates a glass recycling business. He designed a machine — the SuperSorter — that sorts glass by colour before it is crushed and recycled. John's invention will make the glass-sorting process cheaper and increase the profits for his business.
John believes the SuperSorter has world-wide market potential and would like to commercialize it. He is seeking advice from the Office of Applied Research of his former college on how best to protect and commercialize the invention.
Topics covered
- Trade secrets versus patents
- Non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements
- Impact of disclosure on patent rights
- Requirements for patent protection
- IP strategy and commercialization options
Sample questions
- Under what circumstances is a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement signed? What are the main elements of such an agreement?
- How should one decide on commercialization options?
- What are the costs and benefits of registering a trademark?
While most case studies in this series may be presented in 90 minutes, this case study is based on facts that cover two inter-related but separate areas – IP protection and commercialization. It is recommended that the case be presented over two sessions.
CellBio Therapeutics: Commercializing Stem Cell Research
Kim Wilson has been awarded a prestigious Canadian Institutes of Health Research postdoctoral fellowship to work in a stem cell research lab at the University of Toronto. Their collaboration is leading to significant discoveries: a new system for creating induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and an iPS cell line that can be coaxed to differentiate into cells that would be useful for the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
Although Kim is interested in commercializing some of her research, she would like to ensure that doing so would not prevent other researchers from having access to her findings.
Topics covered
- Ethical issues in patenting and commercialization of stem cells
- Impact of public disclosure
- IP ownership in a university research environment
- Patent application process in foreign jurisdictions
Sample questions
- Can IP engage ethical issues?
- Should Kim publish or patent the results of her research?
- What is the commercialization process for university research outputs in the life sciences?
Please note that this case study was developed for university graduate students in life sciences, biotechnology or related disciplines. While most Case Studies in this series may be presented in 90 minutes, this case study is based on an extensive set of facts that covers two interrelated but separate areas — patenting and commercialization of stem cell research. It is recommended that the case study be presented over two sessions.
AutoPaint: Don't Assume You Have all the Rights
(2013 Version)
While on a business trip to Chicago, Canadian art dealer Frank Papadrovic buys a machine that can automatically paint high-quality oil canvasses. The vendor, Charlie Wong, had begun the process for obtaining patents through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and registered AutoPaint as a trademark. Because the name AutoPaint was generating business, Frank registered the domain name autopaint.ca and sold many paintings despite the term in the sales contract that stated that the machine couldn't be used to produce paintings for resale. Frank is then asked to cease and desist using the machine and the domain name.
Topics covered
- Trademark rights
- Domain name rights
- Searching IP databases
- International IP regimes
Sample questions
- Can a Canadian « .ca » domain name infringe on a United States trademark?
- Was Charlie over-reaching the rights of his patent application?
Suki's Enterprise
A computer software small business owner was impressed while reviewing the work of a programming employee. The programmer's work identified a new way of sorting database records that was twice as fast as traditional methods. The employee had devised the idea while working on a client project. The business owner would like to know when questions regarding IP protection should be raised.
Topics Covered
- IP ownership
- Value of trademarks and patents
- Types of IP
- Importance of trade secrets
- Disclosure
- Patentability of software or code
Sample questions
- What rights are there in the client contract?
- What IP regimes apply?
- What types of IP protection are available and which one should be secured?
Silver Communications
Silver Communications, a Canadian telecommunications company, is in the design phase of a new device that incorporates a cell phone, PDA, MP3 player, GPS chip and Internet capabilities. There is concern that the new device may have nearly the same design as their competitor's product, for which an industrial design application has already been submitted. A former intern, who is now employed by the competitor, is believed to have leaked information.
Topics covered
- Industrial design protection
- Trademark protection
- Patent protection
Sample questions
- Can a company apply to register a design that isn't theirs?
- Since the buttons have a functional aspect in the design, can it be said that that function means that the design cannot be registered?
Telecan Pharma
A researcher in a pharmaceutical company appears to have discovered a molecule that seems to have a significant effect in the treatment of melanoma, a form of skin cancer. Research was done in patent databases to verify if any patents have been issued for the chemical compound.
The researcher found that in 1993 a patent was issued to another company for a compound that has the same chemical structure, but it had since expired due to non-payment of renewal fees. Having little experience in dealing with intellectual property, the researcher wonders if a patent can be filed for her research.
Topics covered
- Value of information found in IP databases
- Defining and protecting a new discovery
- Criteria for patentability
Sample questions
- What rights would a patent give Telecan?
- How does an expired patent affect a new discovery?
Samantha Chang: Who Owns the Invention?
(2013 Version)
Just after she turned 18 and before starting classes at Provincial Technical University (PTU), Samantha Chang got a summer job in the PTU engineering research lab. She works in the laboratory of Professor John Milbourne. Samantha's status is unclear as the professor pays a small monthly stipend out of a miscellaneous research account for work delivered.
That summer Professor Milbourne's lab was puzzling out a quality control problem faced by a client, AutoPartsCo. As part of this project, Samantha develops and implements an idea worth thousands of dollars to the client company. The client wants to file a patent on the idea.
Topics covered
- Inventor/patent owner distinction
- Policies governing intellectual property in universities
- Public disclosure
- Trade secrets
Sample questions
- What rights does Samantha Chang have regarding her idea?
- Is Samantha's idea patentable since it uses existing technology?
- What rights does the company, AutoPartsCo, have in relation to the invention?
WiTech
WiTech, a Canadian company in the field of wireless phones and PDAs, is working on perfecting voice-over WiFi devices. In order to demonstrate progress, the R&D director had a patent issued in Canada and the United States. The patent probably should not have been issued because the project manager knew that there were two serious problems: some of the work described had not been done at the time of the filing, and he had purposely failed to disclose some information that he was aware of that would have likely blocked the patent.
WiTech's senior management is questioning if they should sue a small company in the U.S. for patent infringement. The project manager must now consider ethical issues when asked to offer an opinion on the lawsuit.
Topics covered
- IP and ethics
- IP ownership
- Disclosure and patents
Sample questions
- Can IP engage ethical issues?
- Who owns the IP?
- What tests are needed to determine patentability?
- What should the R&D director have done to protect the invention?
Blog
Canadian certification marks: A pathway to SDGs
The United Nations (UN)'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected goals designed to address various global issues ranging from social and economic in nature to environmental crises.
Stamped with excellence: The power of certification marks
Have you ever noticed an "Energy Star" symbol on your washing machine or refrigerator? Or, perhaps you've purchased produce marked with an 'organic' stamp? These symbols help consumers identify products that meet certain standards.
Filter your results
Filter your results
Use the filters below to refine your search results.
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April 15, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Trademarks | The United Nations (UN)'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected goals designed to address various global issues ranging from social and economic in nature to environmental crises.
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April 15, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Trademarks | Have you ever noticed an "Energy Star" symbol on your washing machine or refrigerator? Or, perhaps you've purchased produce marked with an 'organic' stamp? These symbols help consumers identify products that meet certain standards.
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March 13, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Copyright | You've finally put pen to paper or paint to canvas to capture your artistry! Make sure you understand the latest developments in Canadian copyright law before taking the next step to protect your artistic work.
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March 05, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Patents | A patent is a legal right to prevent others from making, using or selling your invention for up to 20 years in the country or region where your patent is granted.
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January 25, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | Beyond administering intellectual property (IP) rights and disseminating IP data and research, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) advocates for Canada's IP interests both domestically and internationally, advances IP harmonization and supports the negotiation and implementation of trade agreements.
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January 4, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Patents | At the intersection between innovation and business lies the crucial concept of the valuation of intellectual property (IP). Whether you're an inventor or an investor, understanding the nuances of valuing technology and patents is paramount.
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December 8, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Patents | At the intersection between innovation and business lies the crucial concept of the valuation of intellectual property (IP). Whether you're an inventor or an investor, understanding the nuances of valuing technology and patents is paramount.
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November 9, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Patents | The world of intellectual property (IP) is constantly evolving and for Canadian entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses into Europe, staying informed about these changes is crucial.
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October 23, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | Acquiring formal intellectual property (IP) rights like patents, industrial designs and trademarks can seem like a daunting process. However, these rights are crucial for protecting your innovative ideas, inventions and creative works.
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June 14, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Trademarks | Having a unique name, whether it is used in the marketplace, online or when carrying out business transactions, is an important consideration for business owners.
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May 18, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Copyright | In episode 15 of Canadian IP Voices, we were joined by Paul Gagnon and Misha Benjamin, experts on how to protect data and artificial intelligence (AI).
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April 21, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Copyright | In Episode 16 of the Canadian IP Voices podcast, we talk about open source software and licensing with Jules Gaudin, a lawyer at ROBIC who specializes in intellectual property (IP) and technology law.
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April 17, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated every year on April 26.
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January 30, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Patents | The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has directed its economic research and patent analytics capabilities to focus on standard-essential patents.
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December 23, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | In celebration of the holiday season, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) ran a social media campaign entitled "12 days of CIPO."
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November 18, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | Are you an ambitious entrepreneur with plans to start or expand your own business? Intellectual property (IP) rights can protect the inventions and creations that drive your business and can help you gain exclusive rights in the market place. For this year's Global Entrepreneurship Week, we will be looking at some important tips to consider when thinking about your business's IP.
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April 21, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | April 21 is World Creativity & Innovation Day! The theme for this year is "collaboration", and in these uncertain times, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is continuing to work with our clients towards achieving their creative and innovative objectives.
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February 28, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Copyright | In episode 11, How to play someone's music online, we sat down with James Leacock, director of Royalty Collections at the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), to discuss the IP rights, procedures and licences needed to play someone else's music in a commercial situation.
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February 24, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Patents | In episode 9, Marie-Claude Gagnon, patent examiner at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), provides hints from her experience with the examination process.
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February 22, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | In episode 6 of IP Voices, you can learn how to deal with pirate copies of products circulating in the Canadian marketplace. Lorne Lipkus, a lawyer known for effective anti-counterfeit enforcement, shares his expertise about counterfeit goods.
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February 14, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Trademarks | With its iconic red and white maple leaf design, the Canadian flag is one of the most recognizable symbols of our cultural heritage.
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February 11, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Patents | A blog post about how to apply for a patent, the actions individuals can take to protect their inventions and the role of a patent illustrator.
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February 10, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | In episode 4 of IP Voices, Todd Bailey, chief intellectual property officer at Scale AI, helps us navigate through the complex challenge of building an artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem in Canada that goes beyond just developing this cutting-edge technology. Read on (and listen in) to find out what steps Canadian innovators can take to leverage and protect their AI innovations.
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February 7, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | In episode 3 of IP Voices, Becky Illson-Skinner, senior program advisor and the program and policy lead for the Intellectual Property Rights Program at the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), explains Canada's border enforcement measures to combat counterfeit products and goods entering Canada.
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February 3, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | In episode 2, "Protect your IP in Amazon stores," Mary Beth Westmoreland, Amazon's Vice President of Brand Protection, talks about what Amazon does to protect sellers and their IP against infringement online, and what new sellers need to know before they start selling their products on the platform.
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February 1, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | In episode 1, "Why use an IP agent?", Louis Martineau, a registered patent and trademark agent at Lespérance and Martineau in Montreal, provides insights on what an IP agent does and how hiring one can help businesses and entrepreneurs file for formal IP rights.
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January 17, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | Did you know that our universities and colleges are true incubators of innovation?
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January 10, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Copyright | In the eighth episode of Canadian IP Voices, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office's podcast series where we talk about intellectual property (IP), entertainment media lawyer Naomi Zener joins us to discuss how IP rights work to protect creators on social media.
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January 4, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | Successful entrepreneurs need to know how to write a business plan, access capital and find expertise and other assistance in order to innovate, identify market opportunities and create an effective market entry strategy. They also need to know how to protect and leverage their intellectual property (IP).
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December 21, 2021 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | In the fifth episode of Canadian IP Voices, CIPO's podcast series where we talk about intellectual property, lawyer Michael Shortt discusses his personal experiences and explains how IP works in the video game industry.
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August 5, 2021 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual property, Industrial designs, Patents, Trademarks, Copyright | The 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo is underway! To mark the occasion, we're highlighting innovations in sports invented and inspired by Canadians. Keep reading to discover some interesting facts and learn about the historic IP associated with these sports.
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April 23, 2021 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Copyright | is World Book and Copyright Day! Books can inspire us, make us laugh, cry, and discover new perspectives on life – and copyright is what protects authors as they bring their diverse voices to the world
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November 5, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | COVID-19, Patents | COVID-19 first appeared in December 2019. By March 2020, the virus was spreading around the world with increasing speed, leading the World Health Organization to declare a global pandemic.
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April 26, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Secret | The National Optics Institute (INO) is the largest optics and photonics centre of expertise in Canada and is among the top technological research centres in the world.
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December 12, 2019 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual property | The intersection of the intellectual property (IP) system and the protection of Indigenous knowledge and cultural expressions is receiving increasing attention within Indigenous communities in Canada, among government policy-makers and in international trade and policy fora.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Intellectual Property | The theme of the 2020 World Intellectual Property Day is "Innovate for a Green Future."
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Patents | A short history of Canada's Patent Act, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2019.
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Success stories
On a mission to save the planet: TerraFixing and IP
On April 26, 2024, we celebrate World Intellectual Property (IP) Day and the theme of "IP and Sustainable Development Goals: Building our common future with innovation and creativity."
Black innovators in research and medicine
Meet Dr. Bernard Thébaud, Dr. Juliet Daniel and Dr. Alexandra Merkx-Jacques, 3 Black Canadian scientists and researchers finding new solutions to big issues
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April 12, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | On April 26, 2024, we celebrate World Intellectual Property (IP) Day and the theme of "IP and Sustainable Development Goals: Building our common future with innovation and creativity."
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January 31, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Meet Dr. Bernard Thébaud, Dr. Juliet Daniel and Dr. Alexandra Merkx-Jacques, 3 Black Canadian scientists and researchers finding new solutions to big issues
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January 31, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Meet Evelyne Moraa Nyairo and Frantz Saintellemy, 2 entrepreneurs bringing positive changes to their communities
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January 31, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Meet Alan Emtage and Samuel Pierre, whose breakthrough technological innovations have transformed the way we connect to the world
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January 23, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | How can concrete play a role in a greener tomorrow? CarbiCrete is a clean tech company that creates environmentally friendly concrete. Let's dive into the pivotal role played by IP and the "concrete" steps that CarbiCrete took to solidify its market position.
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January 18, 2024 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Whether you're a winter sports enthusiast or you face the worst of winter weather on the job, imagine enjoying your favourite activities without fear of the extreme cold.
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December 19, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Nicoya Lifesciences is a biotech company in Kitchener, Ontario, co-founded by engineer Ryan Denomme in 2012. Nicoya has an impressive portfolio of over 60 patents and is using its intellectual property (IP) to create new diagnostic devices and breakthrough microfluidic technology for scientific researchers.
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November 15, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Have you ever wondered how cutting-edge technology can transform your well-being? InteraXon is a technology company based in Toronto that has answered this question with Muse—a smart headband that acts as your personal meditation coach.
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October 20, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | When it comes to achieving success in the competitive landscape of sports analytics, Sportlogiq, a Montreal-based company co-founded by Olympic athlete Craig Buntin and intelligent systems creator Mehrsan Javan, stands as a shining example.
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April 26, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | For World IP Day this year, we're featuring a Canadian who is a champion for women and also a trailblazing innovator. Julie MacDonell, co-founder and CEO of Haloo, is a senior lawyer specializing in trademarks. She has over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs and large companies registering their trademarks both in Canada and abroad.
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April 24, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | World Intellectual Property (IP) Day is celebrated every year on April 26. This year, the theme is "Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity".
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March 21, 2023 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Moment Factory's goal is simple: to get people out of their homes and into a collective experience. The Montreal-based multimedia studio, co-founded by Sakchin Bessette and Dominic Audet, specializes in designing and producing immersive environments, combining video, lighting, architecture, sound and special effects. Since its inception in 2001, Moment Factory has created over 500 productions and now has offices in Montreal, Paris, Tokyo, New York and Singapore.
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April 26, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Omy Laboratories is the result of a passion for the design and production of personalized, natural and 100% vegan beauty care products that don't contain any unnecessary ingredients.
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April 11, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Keri Gray, the owner of Shades of Gray, is a member of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. Her Indigenous-owned company manufactures organic pet treats filled with health benefits from the company's farm products.
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December 1, 2021 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | On , the Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) of Canada hosted the virtual event, Indigenous business and intellectual property: Ensuring the Indigenous economy's continued competitiveness and growth.
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November 25, 2021 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | In an increasingly digital world, having the most up-to-date digital forensic tools can be challenging for police forces in Canada and around the world.
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October 29, 2021 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Many people need a cup of coffee to start their day. For Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow, with his love of coffee, he decided to enter the coffee industry with a vision in mind. As an Ojibwe Whitefish River First Nations entrepreneur and a visionary, Mark founded Birch Bark Coffee Company (BBCC).
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April 23, 2021 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | The overuse of plastics and the management of their end of life is a major global environmental issue.
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December 4, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | In 2014, Patrice Mousseau, a proud Ojibway entrepreneur from Fort William First Nation, Ontario, created Satya Organic Skin Care from scratch.
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December 03, 2019 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | IP story of the ALLELES Design Studio. Based in Victoria, B.C., this Canadian design studio specializes in the design and fabrication of fashionable covers for limb prostheses.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Jean La Rose, the CEO of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, discusses the importance of intellectual property in business and offers advice to Indigenous businesses.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Creator of Montréal's bike sharing system (BIXI), this Canadian company designs, produces and sells bike sharing systems all over the world. The eco-friendly system consists of a docking station and kiosk where bikes can be rented by credit card and returned.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | The Instant Pot® was created to solve a cooking challenge that busy people face: how to quickly put a healthy, delicious meal on the table after a long day of work or study.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Solace Power secured its place in the wireless power transfer market with a well-managed intellectual property strategy.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | In today's highly competitive toy industry, finding innovative, fun ways for kids to play is the key to success.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | In today's highly competitive toy industry, finding innovative, fun ways for kids to play is the key to success.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Protecting the "Next Big Thing" with IP - a success story.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Crafting a business through IP: Lee Valley Tools - a success story
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Innovation and IP - CO2 in the mix - a success story
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | lululemon shares intellectual property best practices - a success story.
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June 9, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | In a sea of interior design and home décor brands, Umbra stands out thanks to the originality of its products. Headquartered in Toronto, the home accessories manufacturer boasts an impressive breadth and depth of products, sold through thousands of retailers around the world including in China, Brazil and the Netherlands.
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April 26, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Jihene Jouini and Vicky Mansharamani, founders of 100 Global Inc. know that being concerned about the environment is a global movement. They also know that our planet is rich with sustainable resources that can help people make better choices. One such resource is bamboo. It grows faster than most trees and in places where many other plants can't.
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April 26, 2022 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Clean water is vital for aquafarmers because healthy fish need healthy water. Aquaculture ponds and tanks rely on filtration systems, which often means filtered water needs to be trucked or dumped. So, engineers and scientists at Clean Valley CIC have come up with sustainable solutions by mimicking nature.
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July 2, 2021 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | IP success story on Cheekbone Beauty, a trademarked Canadian company lead by an Indigenous woman with a focus on beauty and on celebrating diversity and inclusion.
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April 14, 2021 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | When Michael Litt and Devon Galloway met at the University of Waterloo in 2005, online video-hosting and sharing platforms were in their infancy. Five years later, these engineering graduates built the company that became Vidyard.
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June 3, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | INO's success as a research technology organization, IP recommendations, IP strategies and more.
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April 26, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Morgan Solar, a Toronto-based company, designed a special solar panel to generate sustainable solar energy while reducing heat and glare coming in through windows.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Nano One, a Canadian technology company based in Burnaby, British Columbia, seized the opportunity to gain a foothold in the battery space by developing new processes to make cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
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January 24, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | As Canadians grow increasingly mindful of nutrition, as well as the way their food is produced and packaged, businesses are seizing opportunities in the field. At the forefront of the organic snacks industry is PRANA, a Montréal-based Canadian company selling.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Jonathan Thériault, the lead engineer of HockeyShot, says registering a trademark gave them peace of mind to expand in Canada and abroad.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Their Shield-X Membrane, for which the team has been granted a patent, is used to mitigate sharp twisting of the head during impact.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | From creating mind-blowing special effects to designing and manufacturing props, prosthetics and creatures, to content creation, the Calgary-based company is a full-service effects shop and studio.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd. is a Canadian diamond manufacturing company whose mission is to create beautiful, sustainable products that are ethically mined, manufactured and sold worldwide.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Hoshizaki's combination of innovativeness, business knowledge, and IP literacy has led to commercialization of this new technology, fully leveraging his patents to achieve it.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | North Vancouver sits at the foot of the North Shore mountains, just minutes away from skiing, climbing, and harsh mountain environments.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | What started as a high school science project for Eden Full Goh is now a global non-profit organization benefiting more than 17,000 people around the world.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Are you familiar with the BIXI bike, the self-service bike that is available whenever you want, on four continents? The creator behind this innovation is none other than the famous industrial designer Michel Dallaire.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Sarah McLachlan's enchanting voice and profound lyrics have been haunting our hearts and minds for over 30 years.
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February 21, 2020 | Canadian Intellectual Property Office | Today, thousands of specialty health food stores across Canada and the United States (U.S.) carry the Green Beaver brand.
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