Kirkbi AG v. Ritvik Holdings Inc., 2005 SCC 65
The Supreme Court rejected a passing-off claim based on functional LEGO brick features after patent protection expired, while confirming the federal statutory passing-off provision's validity.
Humanities · Design
Canadian coverage, focused on design, with verified short holdings, original analysis and links to the underlying sources. A publication date isn't the same as a decision date. The dates below identify which is shown.
6 verified publications. Showing the 6 most recent.
You Can Protect the Shape Without Owning the Function
Industrial design protection addresses a product's distinctive appearance, not the method that makes it work. For designers, registration and ownership arrangements affect whether a useful idea becomes a defensible asset.
A Little Cartoon Can Become the Most Recognizable Part of a Business
From restaurant mascots to animated characters, original drawings can grow into a business identity. The creative work, the brand and the people who help make them deserve separate attention.
Eleven Canadian buildings and places honoured for architectural design
The Royal Architectural Institute and Canada Council recognized 11 projects in the 2026 Governor General's Medals in Architecture.
A recognizable product shape isn't always a trademark: the LEGO brick decision
The Supreme Court rejected a passing-off claim based on functional LEGO brick features after patent protection expired, while confirming the federal statutory passing-off provision's validity.
Good Design Can Be Protected Without Being Frozen
The most useful objects often become almost invisible. Behind their apparent simplicity are creative choices, commercial risks and a legal framework worth understanding.
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