Earlier this year, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Hasbro, Inc. a trademark for the scent of its beloved toy modelling compound, Play-Doh. There is something uniquely distinctive and nostalgic about the scent of Play-Doh, which according to its registered trademark is defined as a “sweet, slightly musky, vanilla fragrance, with slight overtones of [...]

Celebrity endorsements and testimonials have long dominated in advertising campaigns, and for good reason.  Celebrities provide a familiar face and an enviable lifestyle, whereas testimonials lend greater credibility to a product or brand.  In the last decade however, there has been a marked shift in this advertising model, one which places ‘influencers’ at the forefront [...]

In Canada, it’s well established that copyright will generally last for the lifetime of the author, plus 50 years. Ownership in copyright can be transferred by way of assignment, where a third party is granted full or partial interest in copyright, or by way of license, where a third party is permitted to use the [...]