In June 2024, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) introduced a change in practice with respect to industrial designs applied to buildings or structures.

This recent article, authored by Alex Buonassisi, Pablo Tseng, and Annik Forristal of law firm McMillan LLP, may be useful for understanding the CIPO’s recent introduction of a change to their practice as it relates to industrial designs applied to building and structures. The article may help also gain greater background on the differences between the Copyright Act and the Industrial Design Act.

Legal advice should be sought to determine if this affect the relationships and contracts among certificate of practice (CoP) holders, engineers, contractors, and owners.

Practice Advisory newsletter is developed by the OAA’s Practice Advisory Services team, which offers numerous resources for both members and the public. The OAA does not provide legal, insurance, or accounting advice.

Readers are advised to consult their own legal, accounting, or insurance representatives to obtain suitable professional advice in those regards.