RECENT POSTS
Encouraging Innovation by Promoting Intellectual Property Education in Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions
On August 21st, 2017, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) released its five-year business strategy for 2017 to 2022. Of the five main strategies for supporting Canadian innovation and businesses, CIPO outlined a plan for building intellectual property (“IP”) awareness and education throughout Canada by expanding CIPO’s presence and partnerships in innovation focused networks and communities. While CIPO’s proposed initiatives to implement its IP education plan are commendable, they seem to primarily focus on small to medium sized businesses. Most notably, CIPO’s proposed plans do not outline a specific IP education strategy for post-secondary students involved in research at higher education institutions.
William Foster is a JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School and was enrolled in Osgoode’s Intellectual Property Law Intensive Program. As part of the program requirements, students were asked to write a blog on a topic of their choice.
Blockchain: Revolutionizing Content Creation, Registry and Dissemination in the Creative Industry
People often inadvertently refer to “Bitcoin” when they actually mean blockchain, perhaps largely because the Bitcoin cryptocurrency was the first application of blockchain. But, blockchain is more than cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is a type of digital asset implemented using the blockchain technology. The blockchain technology allows cryptocurrencies to be stored and transferred on a distributed ledger using a peer-to-peer, open, public, and anonymous network. Thus, although blockchain technology was initially created to facilitate cryptocurrency transactions and is largely known for its applications in the financial services industry, any application that requires a registered ledger is a candidate for blockchain support. Industries other than financial services can benefit from adopting blockchain, including the creative industries which refers to economic activities concerning the generation and commercialization of knowledge and information.
Ekin Ober is an IPilogue Editor and a JD/MBA student at Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business.
Virgil Abloh’s “Trademark”
Virgil Abloh, the Creative Director of fashion house Off-White and currently one of the biggest designers in the fashion industry, may have some important legal decisions to make in the near future. Abloh has been using quotation marks around everything he associates with the Off-White brand. Whether it is a design feature on a shoe, a store name, or just different objects on his Instagram account, the quotation marks have become his new go-to, and his devoted fans are noticing the trend. As such, the question becomes: can Abloh’s use of quotation marks be protected through trademark law given its use for commercial purposes? Saba Samanian is an IPilogue Editor and a JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School.
