Significant amendments to the Canadian Patent Rules are set to take effect in 2025, altering timelines and compliance requirements for patent applicants and agents. Among the changes are revised deadlines for requesting examination, new requirements for sequence listings, and adjusted maintenance fee schedules. Filers should review pending applications to ensure they are prepared for the transition and avoid costly missteps.

Section 45 expungement proceedings are a crucial mechanism for clearing unused trademarks from the Canadian register. This update unpacks what triggers a Section 45 action, the steps for responding, and why prompt evidence of use is critical. Understanding the process can mean the difference between keeping your mark and losing valuable brand protection.

An IP audit is a thorough review of your business’s intellectual property assets — registered and unregistered, across patents, trademarks, copyrights, and designs. The process uncovers gaps, overlaps, or abandoned assets and gives decision-makers a clear map of what to protect, enforce, or let lapse. For growth-stage companies, this clarity can make the difference in investment and product launches.