Peter Giddens

First Year of Call
1999 (ON)

Areas of Practice
Intellectual Property

Description
Peter Giddens is a highly regarded intellectual property (IP) lawyer and registered trademark agent who assists clients on the acquisition, disposition, clearance, use, protection, enforcement and licensing of intellectual property. He has particular expertise in trademark, copyright and domain name issues, and extensive experience advising clients in the technology, franchising, marketing and advertising and media and communications sectors. Peter frequently advises on IP issues in complex acquisitions and divestitures and negotiated commercial transactions.

Active in all aspects of trademark law, Peter prepares and prosecutes applications to register trademarks before the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, co-ordinates international filings, and manages domestic and foreign trademark portfolios. He also negotiates trademark licence agreements and other agreements affecting IP rights, and manages and protects trademark portfolios for international franchise systems.

A significant portion of Peter’s practice is dedicated to representing clients in contentious matters such as trademark opposition and expungement proceedings before the Trademarks Opposition Board, and domain name dispute proceedings under the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) and the CIRA Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (CDRP). He also represents and advises clients in matters of trademark infringement, passing off and copyright infringement.

Peter was recently recognized by Chambers Canada and Best Lawyers in Canada as a leading lawyer in the area of Intellectual Property. He is also a past chair of the Trademark Office Practices Committee of the International Trademark Association and a leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group.