Janet M. Fuhrer

Partner* - Lawyer, Trademark Agent

Practice area

Profile

Janet Fuhrer is a partner of Ridout & Maybee LLP in the firm’s Ottawa office and has served on the firm’s Executive Committee. Janet’s practice focuses on trademark and copyright matters, pre-clearance of trademarks, trade names and domain names, preparing, filing and processing of trademark and copyright applications, representing clients in trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings and trademark and copyright litigation. She also provides advice on strategies for the maintenance and protection of intellectual property, licensing, due diligence and securitization of intellectual property, confidential disclosure agreements, trade secrets and privacy issues.

Janet has been granted the Certified Specialist designation in Intellectual Property Trademark/Copyright Law by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and has received numerous professional recognitions.

She is involved in numerous professional activities and is a frequent speaker and moderator at various IP conferences and meetings.

Janet served as President of the Canadian Bar Association from 2015-2016 and as President of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada from 2010-2011. Janet also taught the Trademarks and Unfair Competition course at Queen’s Law in the fall of 2016.

*Janet Fuhrer Professional Corporation

View Janet Fuhrer’s Publications

Education & Qualifications

University of Toronto, Trinity College (1980-1982)
LL.B., Queen’s University (1985)
Barrister & Solicitor, Province of Ontario (1987)
Registered Trademark Agent, Canada (1987)
LL.M. (e-Business), York University, Osgoode Hall Law School (2003)
Law Society of Upper Canada Certified Specialist – Intellectual Property Law: Trademarks/Copyright (2004)

Memberships

Intellectual Property Institute of Canada – IPIC – Fellow & Past-President (2010-2011)
Canadian Bar Association – CBA – National Sections Council Executive (Past Chair), Professional Development Committee (Past Chair) & Past President (2015-2016)
Ontario Bar Association – OBA – Strategic Planning Committee (Past Chair)
Law Society of Ontario – LSO – Intellectual Property Specialist Certification Committee (Past Chair)
American Intellectual Property Law Association – AIPLA – Trademarks Treaties & International Law Committee (Vice-Chair); Trademark Internet Committee (Past Chair)
International Trademark Association – INTA – Indigenous Rights Committee, Indigenous Community Trademark Awareness Subcommittee (Chair)
Trademark Agents Examination Board (Past Chair)
Canada Law Book’s Canadian Patent Reporter – CPR – Editorial Board (Member)

Representative Experience

Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal

Gemological Institute of America v. Gemology Headquarters International, 2014 FC 1153 (FCA Judgment dated 13-Nov-15 set aside judgment of the Federal Court dated December 2, 2014.)
Ontario Dental Assistants Association v. Canadian Dental Association, 2013 FC 266; 2013 FCA 279
Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled v. Rehabilitation Foundation for the Disabled, 2004 FC 1357
College of Chiropodists of Ontario v. Canadian Podiatric Medical Assn., 2004 FC 1774

Trademarks Opposition Board

Survival Systems Training Limited v. Survival Systems Holdings Limited, 2016 TMOB 14 (CanLII)
Gemological Institute of America, Inc. v. Gemology Headquarters International, LLC, 2012 TMOB 171; 2012 TMOB 171; 2013 TMOB 63; 2013 TMOB 64 (CanLII)
Starkins v. Second Round, Inc., 2009 CanLII 90405
Sport Chek International 2000 Ltd v. Max Mara Fashion Group SRL, 2007 CanLII 80849
Yao Tsai Company Limited v. Chan, 2003 CanLII 71291
Société National des Chemins de Fer Francais v. Orient Express Hotels Inc. (2002), 24 CPR (4th) 388
Mister Coffee & Services Inc. v. Mr. Coffee, Inc. (2002), 23 CPR (4th) 544
Jalite Public Limited Company v. Lencina (2001), 19 CPR (4th) 406
Saskatoon Blades Hockey Club Ltd. v. DP Fox KC Holdings, Ltd. (2001), 13 CPR (4th) 364
Institut National des Appellations D’Origine v. Chock Full O’Nuts (2000), 9 CPR (4th) 394
Noma Inc. v. Nomaco Inc. (1999), 4 CPR (4th) 388
Procter & Gamble Inc. v. Hunter Packaging Ltd. (1999), 2 CPR (4th) 266
National Cheese Co. v. Minerva Agricola Alimentaire S.R.L. (1999), 2 CPR (4th) 569
Bank of Montreal v. Midland Walywn Capital Inc. (1998), 86 CPR (3d) 555
Astro Dairy Products Ltd. v. Compagnie Gervais Danone (1997), 85 CPR 80
Reed Elsevier Properties Inc. v. Plesman Publications Ltd. (1997), 77 CPR (3d) 370
Consumers Distributing Inc. v. ony Kabushiki Kaisha (1997), 76 CPR (3d) 106
Canada Post Corp. v. Wagon Post Ltd. (1996), 67 CPR (3d) 83

Professional Recognition

Best Lawyers in Canada: Intellectual Property Law (2017, 2018, 2019)
Best Lawyers in Ontario (2016)
Chambers Canada (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
Chambers Global (2014)
Chambers Global Guide (2012)
Expert Guides: Trademark (2016, 2018)
Expert Guides: Women in Business Law (2012, 2014, 2018)
The Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (2017, 2018, 2019)
The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Lexpert Directory Peer Ranked (2013)
Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018/19)
Managing Intellectual Property IP Handbook (2011)
Who’s Who Legal: Canada – Trademarks (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
WIPR Leaders (2016, 2017)*
WTR 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017)**