Three certainties: bureaucracy, taxes and bagels
By Marcel Strigberger | November 13, 2025 A sudden impulse struck me recently at my nearby Sobey’s supermarket, causing me to buy a package of bagel chips. For the uninitiated, this product consists of about one bagel or so, toasted, thinly sliced, and packaged. Unlike its one-piece version, which sells for about a dollar, this […]
China’s New Draft Trademark Law Strengthens Brand Protection
“To navigate the new regime effectively, registered trademark owners must proactively maintain evidence of use, monitor third-party filings, and act swiftly against infringements.” – Amy Chan By Julius Melnitzer | November 7, 2025 China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has proposed a new law aimed at strengthening trademark protection. From the perspective of foreign businesses and […]
Duping the Dupes: An IP Rights Holder’s Combat Strategy
“Fast fashion, fast beauty, and the like have combined with the rise of social media influencers who can quickly promote low-cost goods in ways never seen before to create a perfect competitive storm for rights holders.” – Thomas Huthwaite By Julius Melnitzer | November 6, 2025 Monitoring “dupes”—products that mimic the look, feel and function of […]
The Corporation—Neither a Soul to Be Damned nor an Ass to Be Kicked
By Marcel Strigberger | November 4. 2025 Just one more thing … There’s something that bothers me – – – Columbo I shall start off by quoting Shakespeare: “Fie on the company!” Well, to be accurate, the bard did say the fie part. Now retired from practice, I am reflecting on what it is about […]
When Your Property is Vacant, It’s Not Really Empty — The Hidden Risks Owners Overlook
By Krystalynn Singh | October 13, 2025 For many property owners, a vacant unit feels like little more than lost income. No tenants, no rent — but also no noise, no complaints, and no hassle. At first glance, an empty property might even feel like a break. The truth is far different. In Ontario, when […]
Why Every Small Business Owner Should Care About Property Law
By Krystalynn Singh | October 6, 2025 For entrepreneurs, signing a commercial lease is often an exciting milestone. It means growth, stability, and a new home for their business. But behind the excitement, commercial property agreements are full of hidden clauses that can cause headaches—or even financial ruin—if overlooked. Many small business owners assume that […]
Invention Harvesting: How to Fully Tap Your Company’s IP Potential
“Invention harvesting is the first step in obtaining patent protection” – Nicholas Aitken Tapping the full creative potential of its innovators, or invention harvesting, is the golden nugget for companies seeking to build strong patent portfolios. “If intellectual property [IP] is a valuable asset for a company—which it is these days for many—invention harvesting is a […]
The Hidden Legal Risks of Being a Landlord in Ontario — and How to Avoid Them
By Krystalynn Singh | September 30, 2025 For many Ontarians, investing in rental property seems like a straightforward way to generate income. But ask anyone who has appeared before the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), and they’ll tell you the same thing: managing rental property is far more complex than it appears. While property ownership […]
What Do AI Copyright Cases Tell Us About the Future of AI Regulation?
“Recent decisions give us some guidance about how to frame AI regulation, but only partial guidance.” – Vincent Bergeron If there’s a narrative emanating from the host of copyright suits against artificial intelligence (AI) companies across the globe, including 40 in the United States (U.S.) alone, it doesn’t augur well for a harmonised international regulatory scenario. […]
BARE BONES BRIEFS: Ontario Superior Court approves $900M counsel fee | Equity partners’ income soars 42% | Four-day work week making inroads for lawyers | Airlines can’t hide behind “safety” excuse in denying passengers compensation for delay or cancellation
By Julius Melnitzer | August 26, 2025 $900M COUNSEL FEE APPROVED IN TOBACCO LITIGATION Ontario Superior Court Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz, who is presiding over the CCAA proceedings brought by victims of tobacco-related diseases against the tobacco companies, has approved (2025 ONSC 4497) a request by plaintiffs’ lawyers in the two Quebec class actions for […]