News

This November 29th the IPIC Foundation (Patent &Trademark Institute Educational Foundation (PTIEF), whose objective is to support education and scholarship in the field of IP law, will be participating in GivingTuesday! GivingTuesday occurs the Tuesday following Black Friday and Cyber Monday and is a global day of giving, a day to-do good that harnesses the power of social media to raise awareness and funds for important causes. More than 6 million Canadians participate in GivingTuesday annually and last year, over $43 million was raised for Canadian charities on GivingTuesday!

Last week in Halifax IPIC was honoured with an Award of Distinction: Excellence from the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) for its ‘Your profession. Our purpose.’ membership campaign. IPIC’s 'Your profession. Our purpose’ campaign launched back in 2021 in line with the 2022 membership renewal cycle and highlighted all the many incredible benefits that an IPIC membership can provide to Intellectual Property (IP) professionals, and all those interested in IP in Canada and abroad.

Yesterday Friday September 30th the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) wrapped up its first in-person Conference in nearly three years, IPIC2022. IPIC’s annual conferences are regarded as the most important Intellectual Property (IP) event of the year in Canada. The event included two full days of thought provoking and engaging IP programming, networking, IPIC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), and culminated with an Awards Gala which all took place at the spectacular Fairmont Chateau Whistler in British Columbia, September 28-30, 2022.

The IPIC Member of Distinction Award aims to recognize IP professionals who have made a significant contribution to the Institute over at least 20 consecutive years. The individual will have demonstrated significant leadership, commitment, and dedication to increasing awareness of IPIC and the IP profession in Canada. IPIC’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Leonora Hoicka is this year’s recipient of the Institute’s Member of Distinction Award. Leonora Hoicka received the award on September 30, 2022, for having made significant contributions to IPIC.

IPIC’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Paul V. Lomic is this year's recipient of the Institute’s Outstanding Contribution Award. Paul received the award on September 30, 2022, for having gone above and beyond expectations of our volunteers at IPIC as past Chair of the Conference Committee formerly known as the Forum and Seminars Committee in 2018 and past Chair of the CPD Committee in 2017.

The Roger T. Hughes Future Leader Award is given to a young professional/future leader member of IPIC who has made significant contributions to an IPIC Committee, Community, or other substantial IPIC initiative during the past year. The individual will have demonstrated significant leadership, commitment, and dedication to increasing awareness of IPIC along with the value and future, of the IP profession in Canada. IPIC’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Tamara Winegust is this year’s recipient of the Institute’s Roger T. Hughes Future Leader Award.

Patent and Trademark Institute Education Foundation is a registered charity managed by IPIC that awards prizes to the candidates who obtain the highest marks in the patent and trademark agent exams.

At IPIC’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday, September 29, 2022 in Whistler, members voted in a new IPIC Board of Directors for 2022-2023. The Board is composed of nine members: four officers, the immediate past president and four directors. To take into account the diversity of roles existing in the profession, the Board is comprised of IP lawyers, patents agents, trademark agents, litigators and corporate practitioners.

The Board of Directors of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) is pleased to announce the election of Tim Lowman as its new President and Chair of the Board for the 2022-2023 term, effective September 29th, 2022. Tim previously served as IPIC’s Vice-President from 2021-2022, Secretary from 2020-2021 and Treasurer from 2019-2020.

Counsel for the Defendants in 278861 Ontario Inc. v Bhagwani et al, 2022 ONSC 905 have asked IPIC to intervene in an appeal to be heard in the Ontario Divisional Court. The appeal relates to the proposed use trademark “Bombay Frankies”. The Intervention Committee has reviewed the request and recommended to the IPIC Board of Directors that IPIC file an intervention provided that pro bono counsel can be retained. The Intervention Committee also recommends that the Chair of the Litigation Committee solicit interest in identifying intervention counsel willing to act on a pro bono basis. Given that the appeal will take place in Ontario, preference should be given to Ontario counsel. The IPIC Board has met on the matter and has agreed that IPIC should intervene on the matter.

Paul was described by long-time friend and colleague Charles Boulakia as “one of a kind, a truly unique soul, a keen wit, and a good friend. I, and the rest of his colleagues at Ridout & Maybee, are devastated by the loss.” The following tribute was provided by his firm where he was a member of the Ridout & Maybee LLP family since 2003. Paul was described by long-time friend and colleague Charles Boulakia as “one of a kind, a truly unique soul, a keen wit, and a good friend. I, and the rest of his colleagues at Ridout & Maybee, are devastated by the loss.” The following tribute was provided by his firm where he was a member of the Ridout & Maybee LLP family since 2003.

IPIC wishes to extend its congratulations and recognition to the members who successfully passed the Patent Administrator Exam on June 21, 2022. This 4-course online program and qualifying examination encompassed the Patent Foundations and Lifecycle, Preparing and Filing a Patent Application, Patent Examination and Issuance, as well as Patent Maintenance Abandonment and Transfer.