Canada, Smart & Biggar updates
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Contributed by Smart & BiggarPatentability of diagnostic methods – has the Patent Office drawn the line?
- Canada
- 07 April 2021
IP offices have long grappled with whether a medical diagnostic constitutes a traditionally patentable concrete or physical method or instead is merely an unpatentable and intangible abstract idea. Although a new diagnostic tool is typically embodied in a physical device or method, the principal advance often lies in the recognition of a previously unknown correlation. New guidance from the Patent Office is a welcome step forward in this difficult area.
Federal Court finds silodosin formulation patent valid but not infringed
- Canada
- 24 February 2021
The Federal Court recently issued a decision in a patent infringement action pursuant to Section 6(1) of the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations relating to silodosin. Although the court found that the patent was not invalid on the basis of obviousness, it also found that the patent had not been infringed.
Innovators challenge final PMPRB Guidelines in new Federal Court application
- Canada
- 09 December 2020
Innovative Medicines Canada and numerous research-based pharmaceutical companies recently commenced an application for judicial review of the final Patented Medicine Prices Review Board Guidelines. The guidelines aim to operationalise amendments to the Patented Medicines Regulations scheduled to come into force on 1 January 2021.
Few significant changes made in final PMPRB guidelines
- Canada
- 25 November 2020
The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board recently published the final version of its guidelines which operationalise the amendments to the Patented Medicines Regulations scheduled to come into force on 1 January 2021. This article provides a brief summary of the final framework for the price review process and highlights changes relative to the June 2020 draft guidelines.
Federal Court orders minister of health to issue NOC to Fresenius Kabi for biosimilar
- Canada
- 25 November 2020
Justice Manson of the Federal Court recently ordered the minister of health to issue a notice of compliance to Fresenius Kabi for IDACIO (adalimumab), a biosimilar of AbbVie's HUMIRA. The minister of health had completed its review of Fresenius Kabi's new drug submission for IDACIO; the only outstanding issue was whether Fresenius Kabi had addressed the patents listed on the Patent Register in respect of HUMIRA.
Intellectual Property
Contributed by Smart & BiggarNo more chasing rainbows: advantages of black and white when filing Canadian trademark applications
- Canada
- 12 April 2021
Some foreign brand owners may be surprised to learn that in Canada, when seeking to protect design (or figurative) marks, it is sometimes better to register marks in black and white in cases where the marks would normally be displayed in colour. Moreover, broader protection can typically be secured in Canada by registering design (or figurative) marks in black and white as opposed to including a colour claim.
Patentability of diagnostic methods – has the Patent Office drawn the line?
- Canada
- 05 April 2021
IP offices have long grappled with whether a medical diagnostic constitutes a traditionally patentable concrete or physical method or instead is merely an unpatentable and intangible abstract idea. Although a new diagnostic tool is typically embodied in a physical device or method, the principal advance often lies in the recognition of a previously unknown correlation. New guidance from the Patent Office is a welcome step forward in this difficult area.
CIPO broadens list of acceptable telephone amendments in trademark prosecution
- Canada
- 22 March 2021
In May 2020 the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) began an initiative to accept telephone amendments for simple prosecution issues. Considering the initiative's success in helping CIPO to improve efficiency and reduce its backlog, it has decided to expand the list of issues for which telephone amendments are acceptable.
Allowance of Choueifaty application provides insight into CIPO's future approach to patentable subject matter
- Canada
- 15 March 2021
In an apparent conclusion to the patent at the heart of the Federal Court's decision in Yves Choueifaty v Attorney General of Canada, the commissioner of patents has allowed Canadian Patent Application 2635393. The commissioner's decision provides insight into how the Canadian Intellectual Property Office will approach patentable subject matter in future and apply the new guidelines on patentable subject matter released in response to Choueifaty.
Pampered Chef succeeds again in trademark infringement battle
- Canada
- 08 March 2021
The Federal Court of Appeal recently dismissed an appeal of the Federal Court's trial decision in a case concerning trademark infringement, passing off and dilution and depreciation of goodwill. Pampered Chef, a world leader in premium kitchenware products, had previously successfully defended a claim brought by Canada's largest retailer, Loblaws, in relation to its use of a trademark that included the letters 'P' and 'C'.
