Take an engaging journey into the world of intellectual property (IP) and software. What IP do you have and how can you protect it? Is it better to use a trademark, copyright or a patent? How long does it take and what does it cost? This presentation will introduce you to the types of IP and why they matter.
With Catherine Vardy - Business Development Officer for the Atlantic Region, Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), and Philip Kerr -Partner at Kerr & Nadeau
4. Intellectual Property (IP):
“Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the
mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works;
designs; and symbols, names, and images used in
commerce.”
Source: http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/
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6. Trade Secrets
Any confidential information used in a business that
provides a competitive edge and that is kept secret.
• Product information
• Business information
• Protect confidentiality
• Disadvantages (public disclosure, independent
discovery, reverse engineering…)
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7. 7
Trademarks
• Word(s) KODIAK
• Word and design
• Design
• Slogan “ZOOM-ZOOM”
Reproduction courtesy of Kodiak Group Inc.; Hasbro, Inc.; Schering-Plough
Healthcare Products, Inc. All rights reserved; Mazda Motor Corporation.
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Trademarks (cont’d)
• Shape
• Sound
• Certification mark
Reproduction courtesy of (bottle & design) Coca-Cola Ltd.;
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Studios Inc.; (Woolmark design) The Woolmark Company.
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In today’s
competitive global
marketplace, branding
often becomes the most
important aspect
of a business or
an organization.
Registering a trade-mark has important
advantages in Canada:
• It provides proof of ownership
• It allows you to flag infringement
under the Trade-marks Act
• It prevents others from adopting
a similar trade-mark
• It makes licensing your products
and services easier
Trade-mark protection
10. The “deal” of the Patent
The owner
provides a
full public
disclosure
of the
invention.
The Canadian
government
provides a grant
of exclusive
rights in Canada
to the owner for
20 years from
the date of
filing.
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11. Requirements for Patentability
New inventions or any new and useful
improvement of
an existing invention
• Novel: must be new, first in the world
• Useful: functional and operative
• Inventive: must show ingenuity and must not be
obvious to someone of average skill in the field of
invention
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12. Did you know?
90%
of patents are for
improvements
to existing patented inventions
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15. Moral Rights
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• Rights an author retains over
the integrity of a work
• Moral rights can be waived
but cannot be assigned
• e.g. Snow v. Eaton Centre
Ltd.
16. Industrial Design
• Intended to protect product features which appeal to the
eye
• Protection varies by jurisdiction - up to 10 years in
Canada
• A design must be new and original – sufficiently distinct
so as not to resemble a design already registered
E.g.. Application/Registration number: 154522
Owner: Ferrari S.P.A
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17. 16
Summary of some IP Forms
Protect
Application
required
Term
Trade secrets
Confidential
information
N/A indefinite
Patents Inventions yes
Up to 20 years
from date of filing
Trademarks
Words, logos,
slogans, sounds
recommended
15 years,
renewable
Copyrights
Writings, music,
art, plays, etc.
recommended
life + 50 years
(many exceptions)
Industrial
designs
Visual features yes up to 10 years
19. Information in CIPO Databases
www.cipo.ic.gc
• Ownership
• Contact
information
• Title / Mark
• Claims / Goods /
Services
• Prior art
• Dates
• Restrictions
• Status
• History
• Drawings
• Standards
• Particulars of IP
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20. Benefits of Doing IP Searches
• Identify trends and new
developments
• Generate new ideas
• Gain competitive intelligence
• License new products
• Solve technical problems
• Identify manufacturing partners
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Visit www.cipo.ic.gc.ca to access the CIPO IP databases
21. Key IP Messages
• IP is Important
• IP is a Business Tool
• Plan an IP Strategy
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22. An IP Strategy may Include:
• Business objective(s)
• Key partners (internal and external)
• Revenues and expenses
• Key activities
• Management
• Etc.
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23. Use IP to Reach
Business Objectives
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Threats and
opportunities
IP
portfolio
Business
Strategy
• brand building,
• product differentiation,
• product positioning,
• customer loyalty,
• exclusivity,
• research,
• business opportunities,
• valuation,
• sale of asset,
• finding partners,
• funding,
• certifications,
• other…
24. Some Caution
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• Look for accurate information
• Keep quiet
• Distinctiveness/use
• Appeal to the eye
• Novelty/originality
• Policing and control of rights
• Moral rights
• Add IP to meeting agendas
• More…..
25. Next Steps – Walking the Talk
• Learn more
• Visit the various sections of our website
• Get a better understanding of IP language
• Gather some business intelligence and try a
search in our databases
• Review what you find
• Ask more questions
• Invite us back for another session
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26. CIPO Resources
www.cipo.ic.gc.ca
• Client Service Centre
• IP Presentations & Training
• Bank of Speakers Program
• IP Case Study Facilitation
• Website Information & Tools
• Business Development Officers
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27. Summary
• Created awareness and learned
about IP and CIPO
• Discussed some key IP messages
• Discovered some IP resources
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28. Business Development Officers
Atlantic:
• Cécile Klein : cecile.klein@canada.ca / 902-426-2172
• Catherine Vardy : catherine.vardy@canada.ca / 902-426-2172
Québec:
• Caroline Lefebvre: caroline.lefebvre@canada.ca / 819-743-3350
Ontario:
• Alexis Black : alexis.black@canada.ca /
• Elizabeth Collinson: elizabeth.collinson@canada.ca / 613-639-0279
• Dumitru Olariu: dumitru.olariu@canada.ca / 519-259-8155
Pacific:
• Ian Bell: ian.bell@canada.ca / Tel: 604-666-5684
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