Osgoode Hall Law School Takes Note of CanadaFashionLaw

I continue to be amazed and flattered by the support within both the legal and fashion community that CanadaFashionLaw is receiving. 

Osgoode Hall Law School, a top tier Canadian law school, sets itself apart in the intellectual property community with its creation of IPOsgoode, an intellectual property law and technology program.  IPOsgoode "cultivates interdisciplinary, comparative and transnational research, collaboration, policy-thinking and practice". 

CanadaFashionLaw.com was recently featured on IPOsgoode.  Below is the excerpt: 

by Andrew Baker

Ashlee Froese, Osgoode Hall Law School alum of 2006 and IPilogue contributor, has launched CanadaFashionLaw, which has garnered immediate attention from both the fashion industry and the legal community, receiving over 500 unique hits in its first three days.

CanadaFashionLaw covers the business and legal issues surrounding the fashion industry by not only exploring contemporary legal issues, but also by providing commentary on the existing policy framework of intellectual property within the fashion industry.

In her third post, Froese explains how Canada’s poor performance in the The Office of the United States Trade Representative’s 2011 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers presents obstacles for the Canadian fashion industry with regards to US willingness to trade.  She goes on to explain that other countries, such as France and Italy, have specifically drafted domestic intellectual property laws for fashion design, which provide greater legal clarity.  The US is also considering specific protections for the fashion industry as it reforms its copyright law.

CanadaFashionLaw has also covered two interesting cases in Canada and the US, respectively.  Froese has reviewed the recent Supreme Court of Canada trademark case, Masterpiece Inc v Alavida Lifestyles Inc. 2011 SCC 27, explaining that the decision demonstrates the usefulness of conducting trade-mark availability searches (the Masterpiece case was also reported on by co-counsel for Masterpiece in the IPilogue).  The blog is also following a pending suit by Christian Louboutin against Yves Saint Laurent for allegedly copying its distinctive red-soled shoe design trade-marked in 2008.

Already, CanadaFashionLaw has caught the attention of the legal community with NY State Attorney, Vincent Lotempio, recently interviewing Froese on his blog.  The interview discusses fashion industry-specific policy solutions within the framework of trade-mark law thereby highlighting many of the unique and interesting problems arising at the intersection of fashion and law.

Guide to Canada's Fashion Weeks

Think fashion only happens south of the border?  You would be wrong.  Here's a quick reference guide to Canada's various fashion weeks:

LG Fashion Week
Dates: March 28 to April 1, 2011; October 17 to 22, 2011
Location: Toronto
Overview: This is Canada's biggest fashion week.  In its 12th year, LG Fashion Week brings together media, industry, consumers and buyers.


Rogue Fashion Week
Dates: Simultaneous to LG Fashion Week
Location: Toronto
Overview: Not satisfied with staying within the confines of LG Fashion Week, Rogue Fashion Week sees designers take matters into their own hands.

Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week
Dates: April 26 to 29, 2011
Location: Toronto
Overview: This fashion week looks at emphasizing the interplay of fashion with arts, photography and music. 


Frugal Fashion Week
Dates: July 21 to 24, 2011
Location: Toronto
Overview: This charitable initiative seeks to profile and support local retail and design communities.


Montreal Fashion Week
Dates: February 7 to 10, 2011; September 6 to 9, 2011
Location: Montreal
Overview: Ce défilé de mode est probablement le plus grand compétiteur de LG Fashion Week.


Vancouver Fashion Week
Dates: April 12 to 17, 2011
Location: Vancouver
Overview: Reflecting Vancouver's international flare, west-coast based designers share the spotlight with foreign designers from Korea, China and India, for example.


Western Canada Fashion Week
Dates: March 24 to 31, 2011; September 22 to 29, 2011
Location: Edmonton
Overview: This fashion week celebrates the fusion of art, design and musical culture for a unique collaboration of the creative minds.


Atlantic Fashion Week
Dates: June 13 to 19, 2011
Location: Halifax
Overview: Entering into its 5th season, this fashion week is determined to let the rest of Canada and the world know what the eastern provinces are made of.


Eco Fashion Week
Dates: February 22 to 25, 2011
Location: Vancouver
Overview: This green machine celebrates environmental sustainability and eco-friendly industry practices.


Ottawa Fashion Week
Dates: March 18 to 20, 2011
Location: Ottawa
Overview: This fashion week looks at talent in the nation's capital.


Alberta Fashion Week
Dates: May 19 to 21, 2011
Location: Alberta
Overview: This fashion week highlights fashion designers from throughout Canada.