Why you shouldn’t overlook Canadian IP litigation

Canada has a robust and reliable framework for resolving IP disputes, and it shouldn’t be ignored by litigants, say Ron Dimock, Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy and Nikolas Purcell of DLA Piper.

While Canada is known for its natural resources and universal healthcare, it is often overlooked as a jurisdiction to litigate IP disputes.

This article sets out several reasons why this oversight is unwarranted. Owing to a market approval regime for pharmaceuticals similar to the Hatch-Waxman Act in the US, as well as the heavy reliance Canada’s healthcare system places on generic pharmaceuticals, Canadian courts are tried and tested when it comes to resolving complex patent and other IP disputes.

Canada’s strength in this area is largely the result of the chief forum for IP disputes: the Federal Court of Canada. Since its inception almost 50 years ago, the Federal Court has had near-exclusive jurisdiction over IP matters. This has resulted in court practices that are tailored to, and a judiciary familiar with, IP litigation. Beyond the effective forum of the Federal Court, the available remedies and the comparatively lower expense associated with litigation make Canada an ideal jurisdiction when considering where to litigate IP matters.