AI and Patents: Can Machines Be Recognized as Inventors?

AI and Patents: Can Machines Be Recognized as Inventors?

Introduction  With advancements in AI, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has seen a rise in patent applications for AI-assisted inventions. AI can help human inventors by gathering data, processing it faster, and evaluating outcomes, but it also raises unique challenges for patenting. Further, advancements in machine learning and AI are challenging traditional IP…

Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON)

Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON)

​​​IPON (Intellectual Property Ontario) is a board-governed provincial agency that provides intellectual property supports and services. IPON was established by the Government of Ontario and designed to help Ontario-based innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and SMEs protect their IP and reach their commercialization potential. IPON helps clients better understand how to maximize the value of IP, strengthen…

Mastering Trademark Protection: A Guide for Canadian Businesses

Mastering Trademark Protection: A Guide for Canadian Businesses

What is Trademark?  A trademark is a sign or combination of signs used or proposed to be used by a person to distinguish their goods or services from others. Trademarks protect distinctive elements like words, sounds, or designs that identify a company’s goods or services in the marketplace. In Canada:  Trademarks can be protected without…

Patent Inventions in Climate Change Mitigation Technologies

Patent Inventions in Climate Change Mitigation Technologies

Introduction  Climate change mitigation technologies (CCMTs) are critical in the fight against global warming. These technologies aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhance carbon sequestration, and promote sustainable energy use. Climate change mitigation technology (CCMT) is a rapidly growing sector aligned with Canada’s government priorities. With significant research and carbon pricing investments, Canada’s clean…

Navigating Canada’s IP Funding Landscape: Empowering Startups for Success

Navigating Canada’s IP Funding Landscape: Empowering Startups for Success

IP strategy: A moat to protect innovations Intellectual Property is “innovation,” serving as the moat for businesses, entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators who bring remarkable ideas to life through groundbreaking research and unique products. Intellectual property is pivotal in unlocking these enterprises’ growth and innovation potential. A robust IP strategy with a comprehensive action plan for…

TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM RECENT CANADIAN PATENTS

TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM RECENT CANADIAN PATENTS

Canada continues to be a hothouse for innovation, with a surge in significant technological breakthroughs emerging from recent patents filed and granted. These innovations extend diverse industries, from biotechnology and green energy to information technology and advanced manufacturing. This report highlights some of the most groundbreaking Canadian patents, explores their implications for various sectors, and…

ElevateIP Program

ElevateIP Program

What is the Elevate IP program? If you are the owner of a small or medium-sized Canadian business and need assistance with Intellectual Property strategy development and implementation, you may be eligible for financial support in the form of non-dilutive funding from the Government of Canada. Through the ElevateIP program, developed in accordance with the…

Demystifying Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application

Demystifying Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application is a globally recognized patent filing system that enables applicants to seek protection for their inventions in numerous countries. It enables the applicants to file a single patent application and have it assessed by several patent offices worldwide. Despite the manifold advantages of filing a PCT application, it is…

Importance of a thorough prior art search before planning a patent application

Importance of a thorough prior art search before planning a patent application

Conducting a prior art search is an imperative measure that must be performed prior to initiating the filing of a patent application. The fundamental objective is to discern any preexisting information or technology that may impact the patentability of the invention. It is crucial to note that a vast majority of products or innovations lack…

What is an effective Intellectual Property Strategy?

What is an effective Intellectual Property Strategy?

A well-formed IP strategy provides a structured intellectual property harvesting and monetization plan that is aligned with your business goals and recommends the right IP asset (patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, or industrial designs) based on the nature of your business. Steps in IP management strategy: IP Audit – Identifying intangible assets and intellectual property of the…