Smart & Biggar brings the evolving technology landscape into focus
Rapid advancements in electronics and computer technology pose complex challenges that make intellectual property (IP) strategy vital to a company’s strategy. As each new generation of products improves upon the last, players ranging from startups to large multinational corporations race to stake their claims.
The significance of IP in the electronics and computer technology sector in today’s global economy is most apparent in the steady increase of international patent applications. At the same time, the legal requirements for patentability of these inventions must continue to evolve and shift, often with different results in different countries. Whatever the technology, our team combines the legal talent and in-depth technical expertise to tackle even the most complex inventions.
Canada – a technological leader
With a focus on innovation and new technologies, Canada’s current strengths and future potential for growth in the electronics and computer technology industry is exponential. As a priority sector in Canada’s economy, the incentives Canada provides to the electronics and computer technology industry are one of the key reasons world technology leaders are investing in Canada.
Smart & Biggar is actively involved in the evolution of Canadian intellectual property policy and legislation and plays an engaged role in developing and promoting industry and innovation for leading organizations in Canada.
Competition is global & increasingly fierce
As the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, companies must build and secure protection for their valuable IP portfolios in the electronics and computer technology sectors to commercialize innovations in lucrative global markets.
Our clients span the globe and range from groundbreaking startups to some of the largest innovators. We collaborate with other IP practitioners around the world to obtain protection for Canadian inventions abroad, as well as protection for electrical and electronic innovation in Canada. As a result, while our offices extend across the country, our practice and experience cover the globe.
Technical expertise
We offer a breadth and depth of technical expertise in electronics and computer technology that no other Canadian IP firm can match. Our practice group is composed of electrical engineers, physicists, systems design engineers, computer engineers and computer scientists. Every member has at least one specialized degree and many hold graduate degrees.
In addition to their academic training, our highly skilled lawyers and agents have valuable industry experience in a range of industries. Many of our professionals have years of advisory and litigation experience with patent, trademark and copyright issues and offer pre-litigation opinions and highly technical litigation support.
Legal expertise
While technical expertise is essential to our practice, it is only one piece of the puzzle.
Smart & Biggar has the largest and most prolific practice group in the electrical, electronic and computer technology field in Canada. We have filed more patent and trademark applications than any other Canadian firm and as a result, we are constantly exposed to the latest technological innovations spanning all areas of industry.
Our combination of legal expertise and advanced technical training in relevant subspecialties enable us to offer unparalleled IP protection. We are leading experts in patent drafting and prosecution, litigation proceedings, transactions involving the acquisition and licensing of new technologies and strategic management of international and domestic patent and industrial design portfolios.
Key Contacts
Client Success
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Badawy v 1038482 Alberta Ltd et al
2018 FC 807Successfully represented the defendant Schneider Electric in having a patent infringement action struck out at the pleadings stageRead More -
LeddarTech Inc v Phantom Intelligence Inc
2017 CAF 224Successfully represented LeddarTech Inc in having the Federal Court of Appeal overturn the decisions of the Federal Court judge and of the Prothonotary that had erroneously struck so-called “open-ende...Read More -
Nintendo of America Inc v King et al
2017 FC 246Successfully represented Nintendo in an application for trademark infringement, copyright infringement and circumvention of technological protection measures (TPMs).Read More -
Emerson Electric Co v Canadian Tire Corporation Limited
2016 FC 308Successfully represented Emerson Electric Co. and Emerson Electric Canada Limited (Emerson) in defending a motion brought by Canadian Tire to strike out Emerson's open-ended allegations of patent infr...Read More -
Iwasaki Electric Co Ltd v Hortilux Schreder BV
2012 FCA 321Successfully represented the respondent Hortilux Schreder on an appeal upholding the decision of the Federal Court in respect of an opposition to a trademark application for HORTLUX.Read More -
Hortilux Schreder BV v Iwasaki Electric Co Ltd
2011 FC 967Successfully represented the respondent Hortilux Schreder on an appeal upholding the decision of the Federal Court in respect of an opposition to a trademark application for HORTLUXRead More -
Jemella Group Limited v Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
2010 TMOB 35[Re Application No. 1,306,752: EHD TECHNOLOGY]Read More
Unparalleled Expertise in Electronics & Computer Technology
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Lexpert®-Ranked
Nine Lexpert®-ranked lawyers
2020Lexpert Special Edition on Technology -
Who's Who Legal
One leading data practitioner
2018Who's Who Legal: Data -
Best Lawyers
25 leading lawyers
2017The Best Lawyers in Canada -
Best Lawyers
26 leading lawyers
2016The Best Lawyers in Canada -
Best Lawyers
26 leading lawyers
2015The Best Lawyers in Canada -
Best Lawyers
20 leading lawyers
2014The Best Lawyers in Canada -
Best Lawyers
19 leading lawyers
2013The Best Lawyers in Canada -
IAM
Four leading patent lawyers
2012IAM Licensing 250 - The World's Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Lawyers -
Best Lawyers
17 leading lawyers
2011The Best Lawyers in Canada -
IAM
Three leading patent litigators
2011IAM Patent Litigation 250 - The World's Leading Patent Litigators
Related Publications & Articles
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CIPO's new guidelines on patentable subject matter explained
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) released new guidelines on patentable subject matter and a set of examples applying the new guidelines to computer-implemented inventions, medical diag...Read More -
Federal Court rejects "problem-solution approach" opening the field for computer-implemented inventions
In a significant decision released August 21, 2020, Choueifaty v Canada (Attorney General), 2020 FC 837 [Choueifaty], Canada's Federal Court rejected the CIPO's approach to examining computer-implemen...Read More -
Five important changes to the Canadian Patent Act now in effect
The Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2, Statutes of Canada 2018, c.27, received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018.Read More -
Top 10 Highlights of Canadian IP Law and Practice in 2017
2017 was a year of significant developments to Canadian IP law and practice, with important court decisions and numerous legislative amendments. We have taken the opportunity to review the top 10 hig...Read More -
Canada: The New Frontier For Global IP Litigation
2017 has been a banner year for IP litigation in Canada. A series of recent cases, from big trials to precedent-setting appeals before the Supreme Court, have garnered international attention from IP ...Read More -
Nintendo Awarded $12.7 million for Circumvention of Technological Protection Measures in Precedent-Setting Case
In a precedent-setting decision issued yesterday, Nintendo of America Inc v King et al, 2017 FC 246, the Federal Court awarded $12,760,000 in damages for circumvention of technological protection meas...Read More -
Google’s appeal of worldwide injunction to be heard by Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear Google's appeal of a worldwide injunction forcing it to block certain infringing websites. The appeal raises issues of how to provide meaningful protecti...Read More -
After the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Alice v CLS Bank: is it time for a combined North American approach?
The decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Alice v CLS Bank (573 U.S. ____ (2014)), and its impact on the patent eligibility of computer-implemented inventions, has been the subject of considerable com...Read More
Related News & Media
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Smart & Biggar named IP 'Law Firm of the Year' and leads the rankings with 31 lawyers recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2021 edition
Smart & Biggar is pleased to share that we have been named 'Law Firm of the Year' for expertise in Intellectual Property Law in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada.Read More -
Smart & Biggar welcomes Natalie Galley as a new associate in Montreal
Smart & Biggar, Canada’s leading firm for intellectual property law and agency services, is pleased to share that Natalie Galley has joined our Montreal patent practice as a new associate.Read More -
Abigail Smith re-elected to the Ontario Bar Association’s IT & IP section
Smart & Biggar congratulates Toronto senior associate Abigail Smith on her re-election to the Ontario Bar Association’s (OBA) Information Technology (IT) and Intellectual Property (IP) section as an e...Read More -
Lexpert recognizes 9 Smart & Biggar lawyers in new Special Edition on Technology
Smart & Biggar is pleased to share that nine of our lawyers are listed in the inaugural Lexpert Special Edition on Technology, published today.Read More -
Smart & Biggar boasts 24 “Lexpert-Ranked” lawyers in 2020 and earns top rankings across Canada
Smart & Biggar continues to be a leader in IP law across Canada in the 2020 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.Read More -
Lei Liu and Mark Pidkowich connect with innovators in sustainability at GLOBE 2020
Smart & Biggar partners Mark Pidkowich, from Vancouver, and Lei Liu, based in Ottawa, will attend the GLOBE 2020 Series in Vancouver from February 10-13, 2020.Read More -
Smart & Biggar names Matthew Zischka as Managing Partner
Smart & Biggar is pleased to announce that Matthew Zischka has succeeded Steven Garland as Chair of the firms’ Executive Committee and Managing Partner of the Firm.Read More -
Smart & Biggar welcomes three new Partners and a new Counsel for 2020
The partners of Smart & Biggar LLP and Smart & Biggar IP Agency Co. are pleased to welcome Graham Hood, Lei Liu and Patrick Roszell to the partnership of the two firms.Read More