The brewery’s lawyer reportedly informed them that, due to potential confusion between their two businesses and infringement of the brewery’s trademark on “Ninkasi”, they must abandon their name or face legal repercussions.
When asked to provide words of wisdom for other business owners choosing a name, owner Kim Minette reportedly said that more due diligence could have been used to avoid potential trademark disputes. In fairness to Minette, however, she also said she did not know the name “Ninkasi” – the Sumerian goddess of beer – could be trademarked at all
Amendments to the Trademarks Regulations will take effect on April 1, 2025. These changes are part of broader updates to the Trademarks Act, introduced through the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No…
Heineken’s Lagunitas Brewery has reportedly advanced its trademark and copyright claims over its "La Tropical" beer in a legal battle involving Cuban-origin brands. As reported by Bloomberg, the…
Marvel and DC have reportedly lost their long-held trademarks for “Super Hero”. For decades, the two comic giants jointly owned the trademark, with DC using it for its DC Super Hero Cafe and…
In January 2025, the Trademarks Opposition Board (TMOB) is launching a pilot project in which the Registrar of Trademarks will issue 50–100 section 45 notices per month for randomly selected trademark…
There has been a reported surge in trademark phishing scams. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) issued a statement warning of an email phishing scam targeting members of the public by…
A few recent patent applications reveal that the Honda Element may be making its return to the automotive industry: The first patent application is a “camper for a vehicle”. The second…
