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Protecting Your Intellectual Property Clear Sailing or Rough
Rapids?
THOMPSON & ASSOCIATESPATENT AND TRADEMARK LAWYERS
Presented by:
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Test the waters
Know what you’re getting in to:
• Has it been done before? • How difficult is it to obtain protection?• Is there a market?
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Don’t miss the boat
Be aware of the time limits that must be met
• First-to-file systems• Public disclosure deadlines
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Don’t go up the creek without a paddle
• You may be limited to what you file with, make sure it’s what you want
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Take a guide
• A qualified professional will be able to help smooth the ride and make informed decisions
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Types of Intellectual Property:
• Patents• Trademark• Designs• Copyright
• Others:• Trade Secrets
• Plant Breeders’ Rights
• Integrated Circuit Topography
• Domain Names
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Comparison of Main Types
Copyright
Industrial Design TrademarkPatent
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Patents
• Protects: new processes, machines, arts, manufactures or compositions of matter
• Quid pro quo: share your invention publicly in exchange for a 20 year monopoly
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Patents
• New • Has anyone done something similar before? • Has the invention been publicly disclosed?
• Useful • Does it work? • Are all necessary parts described?
• Not obvious • Is there some “inventive step” over what is
already known?
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Patents
• 1. Preparation• What stage of development are you at?
• Prior art search
• Free online databases:
• www.google.ca/patents
• www.uspto.gov patents search patents
• ep.espacenet.com
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Patents
• 2. Drafting • Description: describe the invention and
support the claims
• Drawings: show the invention
• Claims: define your invention
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Patents
• 3. Filing:• Can file in foreign countries within 1 year of
initial filing date
• PCT (International) application• Simultaneous protection in 130+ countries
• Gives 30 months from initial date to decide what countries you are interested in
• Publication after 18 months
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Patents
• 4. Prosecution• Applications subject to a stringent review
• May take 7 – 9 years in Canada
• May take 2 – 4 years in United States
• Example of a U.S. Patent (Davco’s vegetation flail):
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Abstract
Title
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Drawings
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ClaimsDescription
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Trademark Captures
• Brand names (Coke)• Logos
• Slogans (“Always Coca-Cola”)• “Things” that distinguish (Coke bottle)
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Grande Prairie Trademarks
ROPE BUDDY
DAVCO
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Benefits of Trademarks
• Creates brand recognition• They are assets for the Owner
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Registered versus Unregistered
• Registration:• Exclusive Canada wide right to use mark
• Proof of ownership of mark
• Unregistered:• No cost
• Limited to regions where your mark is used and known
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Limitations of Trademark
• Confusingly similar • Descriptive• Geographical• Mere surnames
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Steps to Register a Trademark
1. Search2. File3. Examination/prosecution4. Approval and Publication5. Allowance 6. Registration
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1) Trademark Searches
• Test the waters
• Become aware of potential conflicts or problems
• Official Marks
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2) Filing a Trademark Application
• Who will own the mark?• What is their legal name?
• What goods and/or services are going to be included?• Better to be broad
• Has the mark been used?• When was it been used?
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3) Examination/Prosecution
• Are the wares or services properly described?
• Is the mark a:• Laudatory term?
• SUPERIOR
• Surname?• COLE’S
• ABSOLUTE BODO
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3) Examination/Prosecution (continued)
• Is the mark:• Of Geographic Significance?
• BARBUDA
• Descriptive?• PATHWAY TIRE
• Phonetic Equivalent?• STAZ-ON - eyeglasses
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3) Examination/Prosecution (continued)
• Is the mark:• A Composite Mark?
• BEST CANADIAN MOTOR INNS
• Scandalous?• CALIFORNICATE
• SHIT HAPPENS
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3) Examination/Prosecution (continued)
• Is the mark confusing?
• Prior Registrations
• Co-pending Applications
• Section 9
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3) Examination/Prosecution (continued)
• Factors considered in cases of confusion:• Distinctiveness of the trademarks
• Length of time the trademarks have been in use
• Nature of the wares, services or business
• Nature of the trade
• Resemblance between the trademarks
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4) Approval and Publication
• Once Approved the Trademark is published
• Anyone can oppose an application• 2 months from the date of publication to
oppose• If opposed can abandon mark or go
through the opposition process
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5) Allowance
• Notice of Allowance• Application based on use – 6 months to
register
• Application based on proposed use – the longer of 3 years from date of filing or 6 months to register
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6) Trademark Registration
• 15 year term – renewable
• Registration is optional:• Protection across Canada
• Easier to enforce
• Foreign priority
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How to lose Registration
• Failure to use the mark• Failure to use the mark as registered with
the goods and services listed• Defects in application
• Date of first use
• Chain of ownership• Challenges by prior users
• Within 5 years of registration
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Enforcing Registration
• It is the owner’s responsibility to enforce their rights
• Cease and desist letters
• Oppositions
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Trademark Timeline
• On average 12 to 18 months to register• First communication from CIPO after 6
months• Deadline to file in other countries based
on Canadian application – within 6 months of filing date
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Trademarks outside Canada
• Must be applied for in each country of interest
• Can file at anytime• Priority based on Canadian Application
and/or Canadian Registration• Use in other countries
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Industrial Design
• Captures the unique appearance of a functional object
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Canadian Industrial Design
Davco Manufacturing Ltd.•Canadian Industrial Design No.109267
•Brush Cutter Tooth
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Limitations on Industrial Design
• Different look = different design• Must be registered to have protection
from imitation• Test for infringement: whether there is a
substantial difference
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Industrial Design Application
• Must file within 12 months of making it public.
• Must have at least one drawing or photo of the design
• Should show as many views as possible to show all the unique features
• Must describe the features of the design being protected
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Application Process
• Examiner will either approve the application or issue report requesting amendments
• Most common amendment – new drawings or photos
• Conflicting Designs• First to file
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Industrial Design Registration
• Foreign priority – 6 months of filing• Maintenance fee at 5 year mark to
maintain registration• 10 year term - not renewable• On average takes 1-2 years to register
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Copyright
• Literary works (brochures, instructions, manuals, software code)
• Artistic works (photos, illustrations)• Dramatic works (videos, DVD)• Musical works (songs)
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• Prevents others from reproducing the work or a substantial portion of the work
• Protects “original” works
• “First owner” is generally the creator (exceptions: employees and photographs)
Copyright
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Copyright
• Term – Life of the creator plus 50 years
• Registration – not required but makes it easier to enforce
• Copyright Notice (©) – not required, but prevents the “innocent copying” defense
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Copyright Registration
• optional• proof of ownership• easier to enforce
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Domain Names
• Domain Names registered on a “first-come-first-served” basis
• Protection against cyber squatters if a domain name is:
• confusingly similar to a trademark;
• registered by someone without a legitimate interest; and
• registered in bad faith (e.g. purpose was to sell it for a profit, to divert web traffic, etc.)
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Trade Secrets
• E.g. Recipes for Coca-Cola, KFC• Protection for formulas, processes,
information, etc. that:
• gives the holder some economic benefit; and
• reasonable efforts are taken to keep it secret
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Trade Secrets (con’t)
• Benefits:• Prevents individuals from making the information
public• Perpetual - no expiration date• no registration or disclosure requirements
• Weaknesses:• No protection against reverse engineering or
parallel discovery• Protection ends even if wrongfully disclosed
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Plant Breeders’ Rights
• Protects plant varieties against being reproduced for commercial purposes
• Must file for protection before first sale
• Protection lasts for 18 years from registration
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Integrated Circuit Topographies
• Protects the design of three-dimensional integrated circuits
• Similar to copyright: only protects against copying, not independent creation
• Must file for protection within 2 years of first commercial exploitation
• Protection lasts for 10 years