Federal Court of Appeal

February 9, 2023
Side view of a gray housecat's head against a plain gray background.

FCA Upholds Refusal to Grant “procat” Trademark

2023 FCA 4: The prefix "pro" did little to make Puma's "procat" mark distinctive over Caterpillar's CAT & Triangle Design.
June 30, 2022
Photograph of a silhouette of a pumpjack in an oil field.

Inventor Fails to Extract a Win on Appeal Against Oil Producer MEG

2022 FCA 118: The appeal court saw no reason to interfere with a trial court decision that favoured MEG Energy in its ongoing patent dispute with inventor Jason Swist.
August 23, 2021
photo of a hockey stick and a hockey puck on an ice rink.

And He Scores! Patent Infringement Suit Against CCM Hockey Dismissed

2021 FCA 166: The Federal Court of Appeal's observations on the use of prosecution history demonstrate that courts continue to adapt to recent amendments to patent law.
February 1, 2021
Business person sitting a board room table in front of sunny window

Federal Court of Appeal Restricts Admissibility of Foreign Prosecution History

2021 FCA 7: The FCA narrowly interpreted section 53.1 of the Patent Act, refusing to look at a corresponding US application that was not named by number.
December 18, 2020
Photograph of a man holding a passport with leather luggage on the ground at his feet.

Less Baggage: Trademark Registration Later Expunged Will Not Be Liable for Prior Damages

2020 FCA 210: Court held that parties are not entitled to damages or an accounting of profits following the expungement of an infringing trademark.
October 27, 2020
Photograph of a money jar spilling coins against white background.

FCA Upholds Largest Patent Infringement Award in Canadian History

2020 FCA 141: Court warns judges not to be "spooked" by the enormous sums that may be calculated in an accounting of profits for patent infringement.
August 20, 2020
Close-up photograph of a wooden judge's gavel.

Federal Court Can Now Interpret Contracts in Patent Ownership Disputes

Salt v Baker - In a unanimous decision, the Federal Court of Appeal confirmed the Federal Court’s jurisdiction to hear contractual disputes involving patents.
June 4, 2020
Hand in rubber glove holding a spray bottle of bleach

Federal Court of Appeal Confirms New Standard of Review in Trademark Appeals

The Federal Court of Appeal (“FCA”) has clarified how Vavilov's standard of review will apply to decisions made by the Trademarks Opposition Board (“TMOB”).
March 9, 2020
Photograph of an IV drip delivering a pharmaceutical to a patient in a hospital.

Contested Remicade Patent Will Head Back to Court in June

2020 FCA 30; 2020 FCA 31 – Janssen and Celltrion will return to court in June after the FCA overturned a lower court decision regarding a Remicade patent.
August 30, 2019
Woman rubs medicinal cream on her skin

Canadian Drug Pricing Regulator Ordered to Reconsider Differin

2019 FCA 196 – In an ongoing dispute between the PMPRB and Galderma, the FCA says the drug pricing regulator erred in its interpretation of the law.
May 1, 2019
A banker's box filled with files containing evidence

Trademarks and New Evidence on Appeal

2019 FC 406 - FC confirms that registered owner is not precluded to submit new evidence on appeal if no evidence is submitted after receiving s.45 notice from the Registrar.
July 10, 2018

Federal Court of Appeal Provides Further Guidance on Obviousness

2017 FCA 225 - Federal Court of Appeal upheld the trial level decision invalidating Ciba's Canadian patent for obviousness, and elaborated on the obviousness inquiry, endorsing an approach that focuses on construing the claims rather than identifying the inventive concept.
October 10, 2017
insufficient disclosure

Federal Court of Appeal Upholds Finding of Insufficient Disclosure

2017 FCA 161 - The FCA dismissed Idenix's appeal to a FC decision in which Idenix's Canadian patent was found invalid for insufficient disclosure and its counterclaim against Gilead was dismissed.
May 30, 2017

Federal Court of Appeal reverses Federal Court’s finding of a settlement agreement between Apotex and Allergan

2016 FCA 155 - The FCA overturned a FC decision in which it was held that the parties had settled the litigation, and had issued an order enforcing the terms of the settlement. The FCA found that a settlement had not in fact been reached, set aside the FC’s order and granted Apotex its appeal and costs.
May 2, 2017

FCA Finds Provincial Limitation Periods May Apply to Patents Subject to the Old Patent Act

2017 FCA 9 - The FCA affirmed the FC decision that AstraZeneca’s patent was valid and infringed, accepted Apotex’s appeal with respects to limitation periods, and rejected AstraZeneca’s cross-appeal regarding punitive damages.
April 4, 2017

FCA holds FC erred by rejecting relevance of non-infringing alternatives

2017 FCA 23 - The FCA found that the FC had erred by rejecting the relevance of non-infringing alternatives available to Apotex, so as to reduce the accounting of profits award to ADIR for infringement of its patent. The single issue was remitted back to the FC.
March 28, 2017

Federal Court of Appeal dismisses appeal for one of the biggest costs awards ever

2017 FCA 25 - The FCA dismissed Nova’s appeal of a FC judgment, which awarded Dow $6.5 million for costs in their successful action for patent infringement.
October 8, 2013

FC Invalidates Novartis Patent for Being Unpatentable Subject Matter (Affirmed on Appeal)

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. v Cobalt Pharmaceuticals Company [2013 FC 985] Affirmed on Appeal [2014 FCA 17] Background This is an application under the NOC regulations […]