Offence Or Defence? China’s New Legal “Weapon” Against Intellectual Property Theft Claims and The US’ Response

"God, it’s brutal out here!" Unpacking Olivia Rodrigo’s million-dollar royalty payouts

Copyright Infringement by Andy Warhol in his Celebrity Silkscreen Series

Out of Bounds: Lebron Facing Lawsuit over Recent Social Media Post

Athletes asserting their IP rights: Kawhi Leonard gets set for a not so Kawhi’et off-season

After recently defeating one of the greatest NBA dynasties on the court, Raptors star and NBA Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard is set to take on one of the world’s largest brands off the court. On June 3, in the middle of the NBA Finals, Leonard filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of California […]

Advances in Securing the Bridge to Innovation: Recent Progress on Combating Patent Trolls

Over the last decade, patent trolls have become a prominent intellectual property (IP) issue. Patent trolls are companies that exploit IP as tools for litigation instead of innovation, using purchased patents to threaten other companies to enter into a licensing deal or face a patent infringement lawsuit.  Companies targeted by patent trolls can face huge […]

Capitalizing on Tragedy? Redbubble.com Permits Sale of Humboldt Broncos Art

At first glance, art-marketplace websites like Redbubble and Society6—which print original designs uploaded by users on various consumer products—seem like ideal platforms for an artist to make some extra cash. However, a recent piece of artwork honouring the Humboldt Broncos, uploaded to Redbubble by a non-artist, raises moral and copyright issues with the commercial validity […]

The Toronto Housing Market Just Got Crazier!

Although the Toronto housing market may be constantly scrutinized by the Canadian media, it is not often that a copyright infringement case becomes a matter for public consumption. However, the Toronto Star published an Article reporting a settlement between homeowners regarding the alleged infringement of an architectural work.[1] Despite settling, the facts highlight two common […]

IP Year in Review 2017 - A Year of Promises Made, Kept, and Abandoned

This past year marks a year where the Government of Canada engaged more than ever on the IP front. The Government of Canada’s announcement of a National IP Strategy was welcome news for those interested in leveraging Canada’s intangible capital. As I noted on The Agenda with Steve Paikin, it was a “hallelujah” moment for […]

“You Own It, You Better Never Let It Go”: Distinguishing Permissible Borrowing from Copyright Infringement in Music

Can alterations in the sonic bed, piano figures, guitar and string lines in a musical composition save it from damages for copyright infringement of the original? The High Court of New Zealand rules “No” in its decision Eight Mile Style, LLC v. New Zealand National Party. The dispute arose after the New Zealand National Party […]