Monthly Archives: October 2010

Different types of intellectual property rights

Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 by David Lam

You may have heard about patents, trademarks, copyrights, and even industrial designs, and had always wondered what they are. Intellectual property is a funny thing: you can’t touch it, but you can sell it, give it away, and even retire … Continue reading →

Posted in Business Law, Copyright Law, Patent Law, Trademark Law | Tagged | Leave a comment

Incorporating your start-up

Posted on Sunday, October 24, 2010 by David Lam

You’ve got a great idea for a business, and you’re eager to get started.  You don’t have a lot of start-up funds, and you want to ensure that most of your funds stay in your business. When should you incorporate?  … Continue reading →

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Making money from your patent

Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 by David Lam

Congratulations, after spending tens of thousands of dollars and suffering through years of tedious back and forth with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, you’ve finally got a patent with claims covering your invention! Now that you’ve got the issued patent … Continue reading →

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Patents claiming a method of doing business are patentable in Canada

Posted on Thursday, October 14, 2010 by David Lam

In March 2009, the Commissioner for Patents had rejected Amazon’s patent application claiming a “1-click” method of internet shopping, holding that business methods such as these are categorically unpatentable.  The Commissioner appeared to adopt a public policy role, and relied … Continue reading →

Posted in Litigation, Patent Law | Tagged , | Leave a comment

What’s a registered trademark and why do I want one?

Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 by David Lam

When you buy a mobile phone, do you look for a phone with a full QWERTY keyboard, or do you look for a BlackBerry?  When you buy a handbag, do you look for a leather handbag with zippers, or do … Continue reading →

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Why patents are such a hassle to obtain – the public policy for patents

Posted on Saturday, October 2, 2010 by David Lam

Many first-time inventors are surprised at the costs and time involved in obtaining a patent.  “Why is a patent so expensive to obtain and takes so many years to issue?”, they ask. Because all patents applications must be carefully prepared … Continue reading →

Posted in Patent Law | Tagged , | 2 Comments