By Julius Melnitzer | February 6, 2026 “Competition issues can arise at various points in the patent life cycle, including the filing stage, during licensing or commercialisation, litigation, and with respect to distribution practices.” – Chen Li Patent law confers exclusivity. Competition law shuns monopolies. The two are bound to clash. “Competition issues can arise at […]
Bedrin-Alexander: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM By Julius Melnitzer | February 4, 2026 Here is part two of my annual list of the top 10 business decisions in Canada for the year just ended. This two-part series began with the cases ranked sixth through tenth. Part two herein covers the top five cases, in ascending order. 5. Heritage Property Corporation v. […]
By Julius Melnitzer | February 3, 2026 “Applicant behaviour during prosecution has little bearing on PTA in most instances in Canada.” — Jeff Leuschner Patent term adjustment (PTA)—the mechanism that extends a patent’s term beyond the usual 20-year expiry date when granting authorities have unreasonably delayed its issue—is now available in Canada, more than a quarter […]
Bedrin-Alexander: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM By Julius Melnitzer | February 1, 2026 Here is my annual list of the top 10 business decisions in Canada for the year just ended. This two-part series begins with the cases ranked sixth through tenth, in ascending order. Part two will cover the top five cases. Top 10 business decisions of 2025, […]
By Julius Melnitzer | January 30, 2026 CERTIFYING COPIES OF ID DOCUMENTS LEADS TO DISBARMENT Andrew Jackson, a UK solicitor for more than two decades who led the commercial property at Chester firm Cullimore Dutton Solicitors, lost his license to practise when he admitted certifying copies of of a client’s passport and driving license without […]
By: Julius Melnitzer | January 28, 2026 The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has ruled an employers’ conduct that creates mere emotional discomfort for employees during the accommodation process may not amount to discrimination. “What emerges from the Cillis v. Hamilton decision is an objective standard requiring employers to act reasonably, not perfectly,” says Jeff Goodman, a commercial […]
Photo by Cottonbro at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | January 20, 2026 My friend Peter was an accountant. He told me that there were partners at partners meetings who worked hard to build the firm for the benefit of all. Then there were others who stayed mostly quiet and out of sight, but every so […]
When do you have the right to return to an all-you-can-eat salad bar? Did you know you can be arrested for salad bar abuse? We all thought COVID-19 would signal the end of the salad bar. However, these sumptuous buffets have made a resurgence. The number of establishments offering all-you-can-eat salad bars (AYCESB) is forever […]
By Julius Melnitzer | January 16, 2026 BENNETT JONES ADDS THREE CORE PARTNERS Seeking to align both with the priorities of the firm and the Canadian economy, Bennett Jones has scooped three high-profile lawyers from other national firms to join its energy, mining, and M&A groups. They are: DELAY STILL THE NORM AT LSO Just […]
Photo by Mads Donald at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | January 15, 2026 I spent last winter on cruise ships, trying to escape the cold, the snow, and everything back home that reminded me of working in a law firm. With a cruise ship comes shore excursions, and with shore excursions come buses, and with buses […]