125 Years

Since its founding in 1897, AIPPI has worked to improve and promote the protection of intellectual property on both international and national bases. It pursues this objective by working for the development, expansion and improvement of international and regional treaties and agreements and national laws relating to intellectual property.

Canadian National Group

The members of AIPPI Canada are the voice of Canadians in AIPPI matters. They develop and advocate for the Canadian position when debating IP issues in international fora. The members participate, through committees, in detailing the current Canadian law on an issue being studied, and what they believe the law should be. Current study question details may be found here.

AIPPI Canada’s current Council includes:

President – Isabelle Chabot

Vice President – Fraser Rowand

Secretary – Curtis Behmann

Treasurer – Matt Zischka

Member-at-large – Paula Clancy

Past President – Fred Barbieri

AIPPI Canada maintains a number of Standing Committees to assist with the substantive work of the group. Members are encouraged to join as many as they like and to actively contribute. The current Standing Committees and their current chairpersons are:

• Patents – Kevin Shipley
• Trademarks – Jonathan Mesiano-Crookston 
• Copyright & Industrial Designs – Brian Gray
• Litigation – Michael Crinson
• Program – Jason Markwell
• Governance – Curtis Behmann
• Communications – Natalie Raffoul

Working Process

Each year, AIPPI undertakes study of a number of IP issues. National groups submit details regarding their current law on the issue and what the law should be if it is to be harmonized. At the annual Congress meeting each September or October, members of the various national groups discuss and debate the issues in an attempt to find enough common ground to pass a resolution reflecting the position of AIPPI on that IP issue.

Annual AIPPI Congresses

The annual Congress is great chance to network with foreign colleagues, debate the study questions, and gain continuing legal education on current IP issues. The COVID-19 pandemic forced AIPPI to hold the 2020 and 2021 Congresses online. Current plans are to host the next Congress live and in-person in San Francisco, US, from September 11, 2022 to September 14, 2022.