bereskin & parr Archives - IPOsgoode /osgoode/iposgoode/tag/bereskin-parr/ An Authoritive Leader in IP Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:00:00 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 IP Osgoode Speaks Welcomes Dan Bereskin – Balancing Freedom of Expression with the Rights of IP owners /osgoode/iposgoode/2022/10/03/ip-osgoode-speaks-welcomes-dan-bereskin-balancing-freedom-of-expression-with-the-rights-of-ip-owners/ Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.iposgoode.ca/?p=40034 The post IP Osgoode Speaks Welcomes Dan Bereskin – Balancing Freedom of Expression with the Rights of IP owners appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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Man standing behind lectern

Dan Bereskin presenting. Photo by Prof. Pina D'Agostino


Pankhuri Malik is an IPilogue Writer, IP Innovation Clinic Fellow, and an LLM Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School.


On August 31, 2022, IP Osgoode held its first in-person event in over 2 years and the first instalment of the IP Osgoode Speaks series since 2020. At the event, , the founding partner of the highly regarded IP Boutique firm , gave a lecture on balancing rights to freedom of expression with the rights of IP owners and users.

Being the first in-person event since the beginning of the pandemic, the lecture brought us back to an energised and inquisitive group addressed by Mr. Bereskin’s ease and sense of humour. Dr. Pina D’Agostino began with opening remarks, recognized the novelty of an in-person lecture in 2022 and acknowledged all the work that went into bringing it together.

Mr. Bereskin began his lecture by acknowledging the multitude of perspectives held by different IP enthusiasts, such as academics, IP owners and private practitioners. He recognized that the views he presents maybe termed as him “going over to the dark side.”

He proposed that in IP infringement cases where freedom of expression is a concern, an injunction should not be granted without proof of actual substantial harm or proof of likely actual substantial harm. This harm primarily consists of economic loss and reputational loss. It is noteworthy that, in the absence of proof of economic loss, Mr. Bereskin does not include mere rhetoric of reputational harm, without solid evidence, within the ambit of actual substantial harm.

To make his point, Mr. Bereskin used some interesting examples of how courts have treated parodies of IP rights around the globe. He discussed examples of corporate overreach by IP owners, such as Louis Vuitton and United Airlines.

Upholding Freedom of Expression

Most notably, Mr. Bereskin discussed two unsuccessful actions by Louis Vuitton (“LV”). The first was LV’s suit against artists Nadia Plesner. Plesner had used a sketch of an LV bag in her painting to showcase the commercialising of Darfur genocide victims to appease first world audiences. This painting was later reproduced on t-shirts which were sold to raise money for the genocide victims. LV sued Plesner alleging trademark infringement. Ultimately, Plesner won the case against LV and her rendition of the bag with the court upholding her right to freedom of expression over LV’s . Mr. Bereskin astutely noted that Plesner’s artwork would have been less popular if LV had abstained from legal action.

(Photo credits: )

Mr. Bereskin also discussed LV’s case against Haute Diggity Dog, a company that makes plush toys for pets to chew through parody of famous trademarks of luxury products. One such example is Haute’s “Chewy Vuiton” plush toys. LV sued Haute for trademark infringement and trademark dilution. The US Court of Appeals (4th circuit), however, that Haute’s products are successful parodies of LV’s handbags, do not raise any likelihood of confusion and are therefore, not infringing.

Priortizing IP Rights over Freedom of Expression

On the flip side, we have the case of United Airlines and Mr. Jeremy Cooperstalk, a Canadian professor who catalogued complaints against United Airlines on the parody website “Untied.dz”. United Airlines filed a lawsuit in 2012 alleging IP infringement and confusion through the website which led people to believe that they are registering complaints with United Airlines themselves. This reasoning was dubious at best, since “Գپ’s” website denied any allegiance with United Airlines. The Federal Court however disagreed with Mr. Cooperstalk and held his website violative of United’s IP rights. Interestingly, Jimmy Kimmel’s amended slogan (“F**k You”) and accompanying ad for the airline in the US continue to be available due to the US’s stronger protection of freedom of expression.

Takeaways

Through these, and many more examples, Mr. Bereskin made a compelling case for not only recognizing creators’ IP rights, but also the limitations of those rights, especially when they conflict with the right to freedom of expression. Overexpansion of IP owners’ rights poses risks to freedom of expression and should be curbed before these rights go rogue.

For a student who did not get an opportunity to experience Osgoode and IP Osgoode pre-pandemic, the energy and fervour of the lecture hall, the brilliant insights by Mr. Bereskin and the surrounding conversations around his lecture, this lecture served as a unique insight into the power of hallway chatter. Surrounded by snacks and coffee, the lecture was a unique opportunity to learn from an IP legend. It also marked the first step in IP Osgoode’s next chapter where a hybrid system can bring together IP enthusiasts in a most enriching way.

Left to Right: Prof. Pina D'Agostino, Dan Bereskin, & Rhoda Gryfe. Photo by Ashley Moniz

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CALL FOR TRYOUTS - USPTO National Patent Application Drafting Competition /osgoode/iposgoode/2022/09/14/call-for-tryouts-uspto-national-patent-application-drafting-competition-2/ Wed, 14 Sep 2022 19:00:02 +0000 https://www.iposgoode.ca/?p=40000 The post CALL FOR TRYOUTS - USPTO National Patent Application Drafting Competition appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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2021-2022 was a big year for the Osgoode’s mooting team entry for the USPTO National Patent Application Drafting Competition. The team won their regional round, and placed 3rd overall in the national round. A video of the final round is available here:

We invite you to participate in the tryouts for the ! We are fortunate to welcome back our coaches from Bereskin & Parr LLP, including 2017 finalists Paul Blizzard & Denver Bandstra! Students on the team will also practice mooting with and receive direct feedback from various B&P associates and partners.

Students interested in trying out for Osgoode’s PADC team must submit answers to our3 pm on Friday, September 23, 2022. Please send your answers in a Word document with your name in the file name toiposgoode@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Each member of the team will receive up to3 creditsfor participating in the competition.Please note that only 2L and 3L students may participate. Please also note that under Academic Rule 4.3e, students may participate for credit in only one lawyer simulation competition in a given academic year unless they obtain permission from the Director of Mooting and Lawyering Simulations.

About the National Patent Application Drafting Competition

Originally created in 2014 as a midwest competition, the Competition is today a national inter-law school competition designed to introduce law students to issues arising in United States patent law. Participants will have the opportunity to develop their patent prosecution skills by applying legal principles to a hypothetical invention scenario (“Invention Statement”) and appreciating the intricacies of drafting a patent specification and claims that are both patentable and valuable. Each team will complete a search pertaining to the Invention Statement, draft a utility patent application, and defend their decisions before a panel of judges comprising USPTO executives/personnel, patent practitioners, academia and/or special guest judges.

The Competition consists of regional rounds held virtually. The winner of each regional round will compete in the National Finals held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

Invention statements will be released to teams in early November 2022. Regional virtual tryouts will be held on March 4, 2023, followed by the National Finals Competition on April 14, 2023.

Read about the experiences of past students here:

The complete set of rules for this year, can be found here: .

If you have further questions or would like more information, please email iposgoode@osgoode.yorku.ca.

We look forward to another great year at the Patent Application Drafting Competition!

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: IP Innovation Clinic Fellows (2022/23 Academic Year) /osgoode/iposgoode/2022/08/25/call-for-applications-ip-innovation-clinic-fellows-2022-23-academic-year/ Thu, 25 Aug 2022 13:00:04 +0000 https://www.iposgoode.ca/?p=39942 The post CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: IP Innovation Clinic Fellows (2022/23 Academic Year) appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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The IP Innovation Clinic, the first student-based clinic of its kind in Canada, is seeking law students from Osgoode Hall Law School to assist under-resourced inventors, entrepreneurs and start-up companies with their innovation and commercialization activities.

IP Innovation Clinic Fellows (3-5 positions)

It is expected that the majority of the work done by students will relate to patent and/or trademark law. The remaining time would be spent working on other IP-related and start-up business related needs as they arise. The students’ work will be supervised by lawyers from Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Bereskin & Parr LLP, and OWN Innovation and may include:

  • Reviewing business transactions involving IP
  • Assisting with various steps in the patent prosecution process (i.e.: conducting prior art searches, reviewing patent specifications, etc.)
  • Performing freedom-to-operate and clearance searches
  • Performing trademark searches
  • Reviewing IP Agreements and licensing assistance
  • Conducting legal research

Term: September 2022 – April 2023, with a possibility to continue on for the 2023 summer term.

Note: Please note the position is a part-time volunteer position. Students may claim OPIR hours for work done at the IP Innovation Clinic.

ϳܲھپDzԲ:

  • an interest in IP law, technology and commercialization issues
  • responsiveness and a commitment to client service
  • attention to detail and ability to write clearly and concisely
  • excellent time-management, organizational, and interpersonal skills
  • you must be a 1L, 2L, 3L, or LL.M student at Osgoode Hall Law School
  • completion of the Legal Values: IP Commercialization Seminar course is not required but would be considered an asset
  • completion of the Intellectual Property or Patents course is not required but would be considered an asset

Application Process:

ٱ𲹻Ա:Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Please provide the following materials via email toipinnovationclinic@osgoode.yorku.ca:

  • One-page cover letter (briefly outlining your interests in IP law)
  • Copy of your resume and unofficial grades
  • A sample of your written work (max. 750 words)

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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Bereskin & Parr Virtual Open House: Surviving IP Law Practice and Recruitment /osgoode/iposgoode/2022/07/26/bereskin-parr-virtual-open-house-surviving-ip-law-practice-and-recruitment/ Tue, 26 Jul 2022 16:00:11 +0000 https://www.iposgoode.ca/?p=39857 The post Bereskin & Parr Virtual Open House: Surviving IP Law Practice and Recruitment appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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Richard De Almeida is an IP Innovation Clinic Fellow and a 3L JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School.


On Monday July 18, I attended the Bereskin & Parr Virtual Open House to learn about practising there and in intellectual property in general. On the panel was Ryan Baker, Director of Recruitment, Partners Wynnie Chan, Reshika Dhir, Ainslie Parsons and Associate Martin Brandsma.

The firm tour was extremely helpful in that they provided me with not only answers to help calibrate my own legal compass, such as what it’s like to work in intellectual property and B&P specifically, but advised me about navigating the formal recruit process.

1) Legal Compass: What its like to work in IP and B&P

Ms. Dhir opened the tour discussing what precipitated her interest in IP law. She talked about a patent infringement dispute which arose during her work at a semi-conductor company and the rest was history. Ms. Parsons was less story-book-esque where she described how she didn’t see a path she could enjoy going forward after graduate studies in the sciences. She loved IP because it was different, but she could still communicate and combine science in her work. I really connected with this because I too still love science but was always more curious than niche graduate research would allow me to be.

Next the panel discussed a day-in-the-life as an IP professional. Their description fit exactly with what I hoped. I found Ms. Chan the most informative where she described handling upwards of 30 files a day and how every day varies with different sets of tasks.

The panel then discussed what it’s like to work at B&P in particular. Ms. Dhir and Ms. Chan spoke to the firm’s open-door policy and the safe and collaborative environment that facilitates that. Ms. Dhir also mentioned the healthy work-life balance the firm has with its lower-than-average billable targets. Mr. Baker also discussed the firm’s focus on equity and fairness as values that he believes ascends B&P into a worthwhile workplace.

Ms. Parsons testified to the firm’s excellence in career development from her experience starting as a student. Mr. Brandsma however, started at a large firm that didn’t emphasize IP and said the difference in IP skills at B&P was night and day. They discussed the seminars and training programs but also the community of like-minded, curious, and passionate people.

2) Legal Navigation: Steering through the Formal Recruit

The next part of the open house discussed how to navigate the formal recruit process. Ms. Chan addressed the preconception that IP lawyers need a science background, explaining that the knowledge plays a larger role in patents, but a majority of trademarks and copyright groups don’t have STEM degrees. As for demonstrating an interest in IP, they explained that students without STEM backgrounds merely need to establish a genuine interest in IP.

Next, they discussed what qualities B&P values most. After the pre-requisite of a true interest in IP, Ms. Parsons discussed an emphasis on communication skills, attention to detail, enthusiasm, and people who are ultimately interesting and fun to work with. Ms. Dhir mentioned that students who are confident and familiar with their listed accomplishments stand out in interviews. She also recommended doing some preliminary research on your interviewers and the firm and connecting with students who have already worked there to demonstrate true interest.

Mr. Brandsma focused on the more technical aspects of the interview based on his experience joining B&P during the pandemic and through virtual interviews. He emphasized the importance of truly filling the gap that virtual interviews fall short with compared to in-person interviews by taking the extra step to develop a genuine relationship.

Overall, the firm tour was a great experience to provide perspective on my legal journey as it pertains to IP and B&P specifically and provided me with some practical tips and strategies to reaching IP and B&P as destinations in my legal career.

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REMINDER: Tryouts for the USPTO National Patent Application Drafting Competition Team - DEADLINE TOMORROW /osgoode/iposgoode/2021/10/21/reminder-tryouts-for-the-uspto-national-patent-application-drafting-competition-team-deadline-tomorrow/ Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:02:28 +0000 https://www.iposgoode.ca/?p=38478 The post REMINDER: Tryouts for the USPTO National Patent Application Drafting Competition Team - DEADLINE TOMORROW appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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This is a reminder that submissions to try out for the annual (PDC) team are due on Friday, October 22 at 3pm! We are fortunate to welcome back our coaches from Bereskin & Parr LLP, including 2017 finalists Paul Blizzard & Denver Bandstra! Students on the team will also practice mooting with and receive direct feedback from various B&P associates and partners.

Students interested in trying out for Osgoode’s PADC team must submit answers to our in a Word document with your name in the file name toiposgoode@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Each member of the team will receive up to3 creditsfor participating in the competition.Please note that only 2L and 3L students may participate.Please also note that under Academic Rule 4.3e, students may participate for credit in only one lawyer simulation competition in a given academic year unless they obtain permission from the Director of Mooting and Lawyering Simulations.

About the Patent Drafting Competition

Originally created in 2014 as a midwest competition, the Competition is today a national inter-law school competition designed to introduce law students to issues arising in United States patent law. Participants will have the opportunity to develop their patent prosecution skills by applying legal principles to a hypothetical invention scenario (“Invention Statement”) and appreciating the intricacies of drafting a patent specification and claims that are both patentable and valuable. Each team will complete a search pertaining to the Invention Statement, draft a utility patent application, and defend their decisions before a panel of judges comprising USPTO executives/personnel, patent practitioners, academia and/or special guest judges.

The Competition consists of regional rounds held virtually. The winner of each regional round will compete in the National Finals held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Competition consists of regional rounds held virtually. The winner of each regional round will compete in the National Finals held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

Invention statements will be released to teams on November 1, 2021. Team patent applications will be due on January 16, 2022. Regional virtual tryouts will be held on March 5, 2022, followed by the National Finals Competition on April 8, 2022.

Read about the experiences of the students on last year’s team here:

The complete set of rules for this year, can be found here:.

If you have further questions or would like more information, please email Ashley Moniz atamoniz@osgoode.yorku.ca.

We look forward to another great year at the Patent Drafting Competition!

The post REMINDER: Tryouts for the USPTO National Patent Application Drafting Competition Team - DEADLINE TOMORROW appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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Happy 13th Birthday IP Osgoode! /osgoode/iposgoode/2021/10/15/happy-13th-birthday-ip-osgoode/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:00:55 +0000 https://www.iposgoode.ca/?p=38423 The post Happy 13th Birthday IP Osgoode! appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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HeadshotAshley Moniz is the Managing Editor of the IPilogue and the Assistant Director of IP Osgoode.

On October 15, 2008, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, IP Osgoode was officially launched. Known as Osgoode Hall Law School’s Intellectual Property Law and Technology Program, Prof. Pina D’Agostino set out to create a program that would lead IP law discourse, foster a vibrant community whose members are welcome to share broad perspectives, and diversify the IP innovation ecosystem. Now, 13 years later, IP Osgoode and the IP Innovation Clinic are still forging new paths and relationships in the IP community.

Here are a few noteworthy accomplishments from the past year:

IP Osgoode

  • Runners-Up at the Oxford IP Moot: in March 2021, for the first time. Under Prof. D’Agostino and Prof. David Vaver’s academic supervision and expert coaching from lawyers at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and Deeth Williams Wall LLP, our team placed second after an incredible showing and very close competition, winning the Kirkland & Ellis Runner-Up Prize for Oral Proceedings in the process.
  • Leading Legal Disruption Published: in May 2021, . The book, titled Leading Legal Disruption: Artificial Intelligence and a Toolkit for Lawyers and the Law, was co-edited by Dr. Aviv Gaon of IDC Herzliya and Carole Piovesan of INQ Law.
  • Two Bracing for Impact Webinars: IP Osgoode collaborated with the Harry Radzyner Law School at the IDC Herzliya and Microsoft Canada to present two new webinars in our Bracing for Impact Event Series: “” in and “” in , the latter being also in collaboration with Alectra’s GRE&T Centre. The webinars featured speakers from around the world and drew in almost 250 spectators between them.
  • First Virtual Trademark Hearing: thanks to the Honourable Justice Michael Manson of the Federal Court of Canada, over 70 Osgoode students and faculty members virtually attended the .
  • IPilogue’s Return to Daily Publishing: under a new structure, the has returned to publishing daily blog articles written by our dedicated team of IPilogue Writers. Almost 270 articles have been published over the past year alone, more than 120 more than the previous year. We continue to receive and publish guest submissions from students, academics, lawyers, and members of our as well.

IP Innovation Clinic

  • IP Innovation ChatBot Launched: The IP Innovation Clinic officially launched its through a . Developed with assistance and support from Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, CIPO, and ISED Canada, the AI-backed ChatBot provides accurate and reliable IP law information for free on our website. Thanks to further funding from ISED through the National IP Strategy, we look forward to continuing to expand the breadth of the ChatBot’s impact and better reach and assist members of underrepresented communities in the IP Innovation ecosystem.
  • Mitacs-funded Business Strategy Internships: in March 2021, . The IP Innovation Clinic placed 3 Clinic Fellows with businesses pivoting their operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prof. D’Agostino was also featured in the marking the official launch of the program.
  • Clinic Clients Secured Millions in Funding: two IP Innovation Clinic clients leveraged IP information from our Clinic Fellows to massive expansions of their business. to develop their drone technology and for their sustainable clothing brand.
  • First LPP Candidate: during the Winter 2021 Term, under the supervision of IP Osgoode alumnus Reshika Dhir of Bereskin & Parr LLP, the IP Innovation Clinic . We look forward to welcoming two new LPP candidates in Winter 2022.
  • The IP Lunch Club Continues: for the second year in a row, and in collaboration with the City of Barrie Sandbox Centre, Prof. D’Agostino’s Directed Reading: IP Innovation Program students presented , educating local entrepreneurs and innovators about registering and commercializing IP rights. Many attendees from these webinars go on to engage the IP Innovation Clinic for IP and commercialization assistance.

As always, we are grateful to all of the students, faculty, partners, and our Advisory Board for making this past year as great a success as it was. None of the above accomplishments would have happened if not for their passion, dedication, and hard work. As we welcome new students and continue to seek out more involvement, we look forward to another wonderful year and welcome new students and partnerships who can help us grow to even greater heights.

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CALL FOR TRYOUTS - USPTO National Patent Application Drafting Competition /osgoode/iposgoode/2021/10/12/call-for-tryouts-uspto-national-patent-application-drafting-competition/ Tue, 12 Oct 2021 19:00:32 +0000 https://www.iposgoode.ca/?p=38403 The post CALL FOR TRYOUTS - USPTO National Patent Application Drafting Competition appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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We invite you to participate in the tryouts for the annual (PADC)! We are fortunate to welcome back our coaches from Bereskin & Parr LLP, including 2017 finalists Paul Blizzard & Denver Bandstra! Students on the team will also practice mooting with and receive direct feedback from various B&P associates and partners.

Students interested in trying out for Osgoode’s PADC team must submit answers to our by 3 pm on Friday, October 22, 2021. Please send your answers in a Word document with your name in the file name to iposgoode@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Each member of the team will receive up to 3 credits for participating in the competition. Please note that only 2L and 3L students may participate.Please also note that under Academic Rule 4.3e, students may participate for credit in only one lawyer simulation competition in a given academic year unless they obtain permission from the Director of Mooting and Lawyering Simulations.

About the Patent Drafting Competition

Originally created in 2014 as a midwest competition, the Competition is today a national inter-law school competition designed to introduce law students to issues arising in United States patent law. Participants will have the opportunity to develop their patent prosecution skills by applying legal principles to a hypothetical invention scenario (“Invention Statement”) and appreciating the intricacies of drafting a patent specification and claims that are both patentable and valuable. Each team will complete a search pertaining to the Invention Statement, draft a utility patent application, and defend their decisions before a panel of judges comprising USPTO executives/personnel, patent practitioners, academia and/or special guest judges.

The Competition consists of regional rounds held virtually. The winner of each regional round will compete in the National Finals held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Competition consists of regional rounds held virtually. The winner of each regional round will compete in the National Finals held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

Invention statements will be released to teams on November 1, 2021. Team patent applications will be due on January 16, 2022. Regional virtual tryouts will be held on March 5, 2022, followed by the National Finals Competition on April 8, 2022.

Read about the experiences of the students on last year’s team here:

The complete set of rules for this year, can be found here: .

If you have further questions or would like more information, please email Ashley Moniz at amoniz@osgoode.yorku.ca.

We look forward to another great year at the Patent Drafting Competition!

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My Summer at Bereskin & Parr LLP- Mitacs Business Strategy Internship x IP Osgoode /osgoode/iposgoode/2021/09/13/my-summer-at-bereskin-parr-llp-mitacs-business-strategy-internship-x-ip-osgoode/ Mon, 13 Sep 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.iposgoode.ca/?p=38192 The post My Summer at Bereskin & Parr LLP- Mitacs Business Strategy Internship x IP Osgoode appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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Bonnie Hassanzadeh is an IP Intensive student and 3L JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. As part of the IP Innovation Clinic’s involvement in the inaugural year of Mitacs’ Business Strategy Internship program, Bonnie completed an internship at Bereskin & Parr LLP under the direct supervision of Reshika Dhir. As Principal Investigator, Prof. Pina D’Agostino secured three $10,000 grants from Mitacs, one of which was used to fund this internship.

This past summer, I completed an internship with as part of the ’s collaboration with IP Osgoode. I was tasked with creating business and marketing materials for the Engineering and Technology practice group, focusing mainly on topics pertaining to patent prosecution. Over the course of my internship, I conducted extensive research into the patenting process, the value of patents for a business, as well as issues related to patent infringement and available remedies in Canada.

One of the skills I sharpened over the course of my internship was effective and accessible legal writing. Early on, I realized that I needed to strike a balance between communicating dense legal concepts that are crucial to the everyday practice of patent professionals with accessibility of that content for existing and prospective clients. Many clients who seek the services of patent professionals have extensive knowledge in technical fields, such as science or engineering, but often do not have much experience with intellectual property law. Therefore, it was crucial for me to adjust my writing to the needs of clients. I was grateful to receive constructive feedback from my mentor, , on a regular basis and improve on my work each week.

My experience of working at a law firm was also unique in that not only did I get to collaborate with the lawyers and patent professionals at Bereskin & Parr, but I also got a glimpse into the creative and marketing side of running a successful firm. As a law student with a background in the life sciences, I did not have much experience with the creative process of developing business materials going into the program, and through collaborating with a talented team of marketing professionals, I learned a lot about the importance of effective presentation of information.

I also had several opportunities to collaborate with the professionals at Bereskin & Parr to write and publish articles about recent topics in intellectual property law and examine those topics not only from a theoretical perspective but also from the lens of practitioners in the field. Writing articles and going through the process of editing with the professionals provided great opportunities for me to clarify my understanding of key legal doctrines and how they apply to the practice of law in a boutique IP law firm.

Overall, my experience with the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship program and their collaboration with IP Osgoode and Bereskin & Parr LLP was a very rewarding one and I took many lessons from my summer term that I know I will utilize in the future.

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: IP Innovation Clinic Fellows (2021/22 academic year) /osgoode/iposgoode/2021/08/18/call-for-applications-ip-innovation-clinic-fellows-2021-22-academic-year/ Wed, 18 Aug 2021 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.iposgoode.ca/?p=38058 The post CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: IP Innovation Clinic Fellows (2021/22 academic year) appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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UPDATE (9 September 2021): We will continue accepting applications until Tuesday, September 14. Please send your completed applications to iposgoode@osgoode.yorku.ca.

The IP Innovation Clinic, the first student-based clinic of its kind in Canada, is seeking law students from Osgoode Hall Law School to provide assistance to under-resourced inventors, entrepreneurs and start-up companies with their innovation and commercialization activities.

IP Innovation Clinic Fellows (5-8 positions)

It is expected that the majority of the work done by students will relate to patent law. The remaining time would be spent working on other IP-related and start-up business related needs as they arise. The students’ work will be supervised by lawyers from Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Bereskin & Parr LLP, and OWN Innovation and may include:

  • Reviewing business transactions involving IP
  • Assisting with various steps in the patent prosecution process (i.e.: conducting prior art searches, reviewing patent specifications, etc.)
  • Performing freedom-to-operate and clearance searches
  • Performing trademark searches
  • Reviewing IP Agreements and licensing assistance
  • Conducting legal research

Term: September 2021 – April 2022, with a possibility to continue on for the 2022 summer term.

Note: Please note the position is a part-time volunteer position. Students may claim OPIR hours for work done at the IP Innovation Clinic.

ϳܲھپDzԲ:

  • an interest in IP law, technology and commercialization issues
  • responsiveness and a commitment to client service
  • attention to detail and ability to write clearly and concisely
  • excellent time-management, organizational, and interpersonal skills
  • you must be a 1L, 2L or 3L student at Osgoode Hall Law School
  • completion of the Legal Values: IP Commercialization Seminar course is not required but would be considered an asset
  • completion of the Intellectual Property or Patents course is not required but would be considered an asset

Application Process:

Deadline: Friday, September 3, 2021

Please provide the following materials via email to iposgoode@osgoode.yorku.ca:

  • One page cover letter (briefly outlining your interests in IP law)
  • Copy of your resume and unofficial grades
  • A sample of your written work (max. 750 words)

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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3 IP Innovation Clinic Fellows to Receive Mitacs Business Strategy Internships /osgoode/iposgoode/2021/03/24/3-ip-innovation-clinic-fellows-to-receive-mitacs-business-strategy-internships/ Wed, 24 Mar 2021 16:00:03 +0000 https://www.iposgoode.ca/?p=36914 The post 3 IP Innovation Clinic Fellows to Receive Mitacs Business Strategy Internships appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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We are thrilled to share that three of our IP Innovation Clinic Fellows will provide meaningful assistance to help some of our partners respond to market demands resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. has approved a $10,000 grant for each of the three proposals that we submitted through their (BSI) program. Prof Pina D'Agostino will supervise each of these internships.

Mitacs designed the BSI program for students to find employment this summer and to help participating partner organizations to restore or modify their business operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first year that Mitacs will run this program. Our students will be able to further their legal knowledge beyond the classroom through practical work on real world projects.

Here is some more information about each project:

3D Bridge Patenting and Commercialization Research

has developed a secure digital medication platform through which health practitioners and other authorized care providers can connect with patients remotely. The device will help to ensure that the medication is properly administered to patients, specifically the elderly, patients with comorbidities, and those who take addictive or high-cost medication. Krystel Ametepeh, 1L student and IP Innovation Clinic Fellow, will work under the supervision of Karima Bawa, CEO and in-house lawyer of 3D Bridge, to provide legal research services in intellectual property, health and privacy law and to address the legal requirements associated with commercialization amidst this product’s pre-commercial rollout.

Innovative Educational and Marketing Tools for Prospective IP Rights Owners (Bereskin & Parr)

(B&P) has struggled to market their services and educate clients without their usual in-person events. With funding from Mitacs, B&P will hire Bonnie Hassanzadeh, 2L student and IP Innovation Clinic Fellow, to create educational and marketing tools for various purposes, including training for new staff and educating prospective and existing clients. Under the supervision of B&P Partner Reshika Dhir, Bonnie will also research marketing strategies about tailoring these materials to various clientele and determine the most effective media to convey the relevant information. Some of these materials will be available for use by our IP Innovation Clinic.

Interaxon Scaling Project

is a Toronto-based company that helps customers to build rewarding meditation and sleep practices to lead healthier and happier lives. As the COVID-19 pandemic has increased their need to address mental health concerns, Interaxon is looking to increase the commercialization of its products and services. The funding will allow Androu Waheeb, 1L student and IP Innovation Clinic Fellow, to work alongside Naseem Bawa, General Counsel at Interaxon, in developing licensing arrangements for the company’s relevant IP and seeking FDA approval to make Interaxon’s devices more accessible to users.

We are very grateful to Mitacs for approving IP Osgoode's proposals in this inaugural year of their Business Strategy Internship program. We would also like to thank our supervisors at 3D Bridge, Bereskin & Parr, and Interaxon for working hard on such short notice to make space for our students and put our proposals together. We look forward to seeing how our students grow and what they accomplish with our partner organizations.

The post 3 IP Innovation Clinic Fellows to Receive Mitacs Business Strategy Internships appeared first on IPOsgoode.

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