Maximizing the value of a product’s unique design
When a product’s look is important to customers, industrial design protection is critical.
A product’s visual features can set it apart from the competition, driving sales and increasing market share. A registered industrial design provides exclusivity over that product’s registered design features.
The Smart & Biggar difference
Smart & Biggar’s expertise in identifying, securing and enforcing industrial design rights is unmatched. Our team also understands the complex interplay between industrial design law and other forms of intellectual property, including patents, copyright and trade dress rights to expertly develop a sophisticated strategic approach to product appearance. Our diverse knowledge allows us to provide precise, timely and focused legal advice for Canadian and international companies seeking to protect and enforce their product designs.
Experience and ingenuity
We have filed more industrial design applications than any other firm in Canada. We work closely and seamlessly with creators, product developers and designers to understand and protect what makes a product’s design unique and important. We do so creatively, leveraging industrial design registrations as part of a strong IP portfolio based on a comprehensive IP protection strategy.
Key Contacts
Client Success
-
Bodum USA Inc and PI Design AG v Trudeau Corporation
2012 FC 1128Successfully represented the respondent Trudeau Corporation in an industrial design infringement action where the Court rejected the plaintiffs’ claim of industrial design infringement and ...Read More -
Peak Innovations Inc v Meadowland Flowers Ltd
T-1268-08Successfully resisted an appeal regarding the jurisdiction of the Federal Court.Read More -
Inhesion Industrial Co v Anglo Canadian Mercantile Co
6 CPR (4) 362 (FCTD)Successfully resisted summary judgment motion in Federal Court of Canada in copyright case concerning tableware.Read More
Related Publications & Articles
-
COVID-19 Update: Further extension of Canadian Intellectual Property Office deadlines to August 31, 2020
Due to interruptions in CIPO’s online and fax services resulting from scheduled maintenance taking place this weekend, CIPO has decided to extend deadlines one more time.Read More -
What the amendments to the USMCA mean for Canadian IP law
On December 10, 2019, Canada, the United States and Mexico signed the Protocol of Amendment to the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States and Canada (commonly referr...Read More -
A long and winding road: Canada nears the end of an ambitious project to modernize patent, trademark and industrial design laws
On July 30, 2019, Canada acceded to the Patent Law Treaty. This accession marks the near completion of a long and ambitious journey by Canada to modernize its patent, trademark and industrial design l...Read More -
Quick, Easy, Secure: Canada joins WIPO’s Digital Access Service for industrial design priority documents
Submitting priority documents for industrial design applications in Canada has just become more efficient! On April 1, 2019, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) continued the modernizatio...Read More -
We have liftoff: Canada’s new Industrial Design Regime has launched
November 5, 2018, marks an important step in the evolution of the industrial design regime in Canada. Numerous and substantial amendments to the Industrial Design Act and Rules are now in force.Read More -
USMCA v NAFTA: What’s changed and what it means for IP in Canada
After more than a year of negotiations, Canada reached a new free-trade agreement with Mexico and the United States minutes before the midnight deadline on September 30, 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 moves closer to joining the Hague Agreement with the release of proposed new Industrial Design Regulations
On December 9, 2017 Canada’s Governor-in-Council took the formal step of publishing proposed new Industrial Design Regulations (the proposed Regulations) in the Canadian Gazette.Read More
Related News & Media
-
Smart & Biggar a ‘market-leading IP boutique’ in 2021 edition of The Legal 500 Canada
Smart & Biggar is pleased to share the firm’s recognition as a ‘Tier 1’ firm for Intellectual Property in the 2021 edition of The Legal 500 Canada.Read More -
Smart & Biggar expands in Vancouver with the addition of Norman Cameron and his team from Cameron IP
Smart & Biggar announced today that Norman Cameron and his team from Cameron IP will be joining the firm’s office in Vancouver, Canada.Read More -
Smart & Biggar builds on strength as an IP litigation powerhouse with the additions of Noelle Engle-Hardy and Ryan Evans in Toronto
We are proud to welcome Noelle Engle-Hardy and Ryan Evans as the newest members of Smart & Biggar’s highly skilled IP litigation team.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 -
Smart & Biggar team members gather for and speak at the IPIC Annual Conference
The Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) will host its 93rd Annual Conference in Ottawa from September 25-27th, 2019.Read More -
Smart & Biggar celebrates women in IP and STEM at Ottawa WING event
On April 24th members of the Women’s Intellectual Property Group (WING) of the IP Institute of Canada (IPIC) connected across Canada for “Trailblazers: An Evening to Celebrate Women in IP and STEM”.Read More -
Smart & Biggar hosts a workshop to help Victoria inventors protect their hardware innovations
On Thursday, April 11th, Smart & Biggar will host “Protecting Hardware Innovations” at the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council (VIATEC).Read More -
Smart & Biggar sponsors the 2019 CCCA National Conference
Smart & Biggar is proud to be a sponsor of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association’s (CCCA) National Conference in Toronto, Ontario from April 7-9, 2019.Read More