Announcing the 2018/2019 Winners of the @GowlingWLG Best Blog in IP Law and Technology Prize

IP Osgoode would like to congratulate the winners of the Gowling WLG Best Blog in IP Law and Technology Prize for 2018-2019. Four prizes in total are awarded each year to Osgoode students and the winning blog posts are featured in the IPilogue. Recipients also receive a $500 award, are announced at Convocation and receive […]

A Possible Legal Response to the Rise of Smart Clothing

In the third instalment of the Toronto Wearables Series, I began to discuss a possible path forward in the regulation of smart clothing. The rise of new ideas and innovations have a tendency to create the illusion that a regulatory scheme is needed in order to capture and govern such inventions. However, it is important […]

The (Un)Controllable Rise of Smart Clothing

In the second instalment of the Toronto Wearables Series, I discussed how wearable technology, such as smart watches or smart headbands, has become somewhat common. Indeed, it has enabled users to conveniently stay updated on correspondence, plans, and even fitness schedules. Smart clothing, however, has been less thoroughly explored and advertised to date. In fact, […]

The Dark Side of Wearable Technology

In an earlier post, I discussed how wearables are becoming prominent in modern life, with Toronto being a notable hotspot for technology development and related interest. From a legal perspective, there are two main concerns with wearable technology: privacy and product liability. This instalment in the Toronto Wearables Series will focus on the former. The […]

One of Wearable Technology’s Most Prominent Homes: Toronto

Toronto is quickly becoming a leader in the wearable technology industry, and is home to several innovative start-ups that have been very active in this field. In particular, there has been a focus on using wearable technology in relation to fitness and medical needs, with biometrics being a primary indicator. To support this activity, Toronto […]

IP Intensive: Not Just a Network, but THE Network: my 10-week placement at the CBC

I began my placement on a cloudy, rainy day when I walked into the John Street entrance at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (“CBC”). My time at the organization, however, was nothing short of sunny and bright. When I walked in, I looked around and immediately realized that being at an organization like this was something […]

The Confusing Side of Offensive Marks: Matal v Tam’s Implications

The Supreme Court of the United States’ decision in the 2017 case of Matal v Tam (“Matal”) has important implications for trademark law inside and outside of the United States.”  In ruling that the Lanham Act’s “non-disparagement” provision violated the First Amendment, the Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal for the Federal […]

Virgil Abloh’s “Trademark”

Virgil Abloh, the Creative Director of fashion house Off-White and currently one of the biggest designers in the fashion industry, may have some important legal decisions to make in the near future. Abloh has been using quotation marks around everything he associates with the Off-White brand. Whether it is a design feature on a shoe, a […]

The Imminent Problem of Counterfeit Sports Merchandise

Counterfeit products are a growing issue and have resulted in an annual estimated loss of $20-30 billion in tax revenue for Canada over the past few years. In particular, the rise in counterfeit sports merchandise has been almost uncontrollable.

Zara: the Repeat Offender

With ever-changing trends, the cost of keeping up with the latest fad can quickly add up for style-conscious consumers. As such, many well-known clothing retailers have adopted a business model called “fast-fashion”. Retailers –including Zara and H&M– offer the trendiest clothing garments and accessories at a low price in order to cater to the consumer […]