In this issue - #84 March 31, 2006

The Pushor Mitchell expansion is well underway.

Seminars

At the heel of the patent dispute between RIM and NTP, eBay finds itself being accused of willfully infringing patents held by MercExchange LLP.

On February 9, 2006, Callaway Golf Company filed a patent infringement suit against Acushent Company, the producer of the golf balls sold under the Titleist brand

In a recent edition of his weekly column, “Legal Ease”, which appears nationally in a variety of print and electronic media, Robert Smithson addressed the proposed amendments to B.C.’s Employment Standards Act introducing compassionate care leave.

In the March 6th edition of its bulletin, Canadian Employment Law News, HRinfodesk reports that B.C.’s Finance Minister Carole Taylor did not announce any payroll-related tax or employment law related changes in the province’s 2006 budget on February 21, 2006.

It used to be that when you brought your lunch to work your biggest worry was someone stealing your dessert. 

In the March 6th edition of its bulletin, Canadian Employment Law News, HRinfodesk reports that shortly after the federal Liberal government had restructured the Department of Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) into two distinct departments (to form the department of Human Resources and Skills Development and the Department of Social Development), the new Conservative government has just tabled an order to merge the two, under the Authority of the Minister and the Deputy Minister.

This one should be filed in the cabinet marked, “It should have been obvious this could only lead to disaster”

A recent article in BDO Dunwoody’s electronic bulletin, News Flash, suggests employees working from home are, indeed, productive.

From the Globe and Mail, Saturday March 18, 2006

Security firm claims 'Metafisher' has spread to a million computers and growing.

Toronto Hydro recently announced that it plans to blanket the city of Toronto with wireless internet access.

Shaw Communications is being sued for $1.2 million by internet telephone provider ZingoTel for failing to broadcast a ZingoTel television advertisement promoting its competing phone service. 

If you are ever in a rear-end collision, just hope that you are facing forward.

ZURICH'S U.S. UNIT TO PAY $171M SETTLEMENT

Baseball is the most legalistic of sports

Has your B.C. Company been transitioned under the new BC Business Corporations Act?

BY GRANT THORNTON LLP

In the first of a two-part series of columns, attorney and author Elaine Cassel discusses current legal and political battles over abortion and contraception.

You can now register for the annual PROVINCIAL FAMILY COURT AND YOUTH
JUSTICE COMMITTEE CONFERENCE that will be held on April 28-29, 2006 by
following this link:

The Canadian coffee institution went public last week.

Apple Corps., the Beatles' record company, and Apple Computers are engaged in yet another legal dispute over the use of their respective trademark s.

Corporations, governments and individuals will soon be able to offer a sincere apology as part of their dispute resolution process without fear of legal liability, thanks to new legislation being tabled today, said Attorney General Wally Oppal.

N.J. Court Opens Door to Accutane Suits by Out-of-State Users
"Citing New Jersey's interest in ensuring that companies in the state make safe products, the state's Appellate Division has reinstated a suit by an out-of-state man who claimed Hoffmann-La Roche's acne drug Accutane caused him to become so depressed that he attempted suicide. 

Ford Motor Co. approved replacement tires for its Explorer sport utility vehicle that made it just as likely to roll over as the originals that Ford blamed for more than 200 deaths.

Panel Advises Disclosure of Drugs' Psychotic Effects

Preparing for the Pandemic: CME releases business planning guide

The  City of Vancouver's decision to limit development along the "Arbutus Corridor"  was upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada on Friday March 24th: For a full text copy of the judgment see:

Do you know a start-up technology company that could do with $60,000, a good mentor, and introductions to the BC investment community?

A major Canadian telecommunications policy report has been
released.

On March 15, 2006, the UN General Assembly voted 170 to four to create
a new human rights body – the UN Human Rights Council – to replace the
60-year-old UN Human Rights Commission. Canada voted in favour.

Recently, author David Poque attended an amazing conference called TED (for Technology, Entertainment and Design).

Exporting opportunities for Canadian businesses

If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.