Articles 2021

On the heels of Mark Zuckerberg announcing the rebranding of Facebook to “Meta”, along with his plans for creating a virtual reality metaverse, Nike garnered significant media attention when it was reported that it filed seven trademark applications for use on “virtual goods”. These filings include the notable Nike “swoosh” logo and the words “Nike”, “Just Do It”, “Jordan”, and “Air Jordan”.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence on intellectual property policy is an issue that more countries around their world are turning their focus towards. Canada is no exception. In 2021, the Government of Canada launched a Consultation on Modern Copyright Framework for Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things to assess whether Canada’s existing copyright framework is keeping pace with the rapid developments in artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.

Legal services are out of reach for many Canadians. Research shows that Canadians do not seek advice for more than 80% of their legal issues. With the ever-present intersection between technology and legal services, and the goal of improving access to justice, the Law Society of Ontario has joined legal regulators both throughout Canada and abroad in adopting its own “regulatory sandbox”.

Bridal designer Hayley Paige Gutman, known for her opulent gowns and booming social media presence, has been in an intense legal battle for the past two years with her former employer JLM Couture, Inc. On January 25, 2022, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit released its decision with respect to the most recent appeal from the designer.

In November of 2021, the Federal Court was tasked with further defining the scope of patent agent privilege. While amendments to the Patent Act pertaining to patent agent privilege came into force in 2016, the interpretation of this section was only recently discussed by the court in Case Management Judge Trent Horne’s decision in Janssen Inc et al v Sandoz Canada Inc, 2021 FC 1265.

The term the “Metaverse” has recently gained a lot of traction among businesses, with several companies seizing the opportunity to expand their brand in the virtual space. This has included the filing of trademark applications in association with various virtual goods and services. The application of trademark rights to the Metaverse is largely unknown territory, making this an exciting area with the potential for a significant impact on IP law and businesses around the globe.