R. Nelson Godfrey

Representative Work

Nelson has litigated cases across the entire spectrum of intellectual property law. References to representative cases and decisions follow below.

Patent

• Pakage Apparel Inc. v. Humanfashionation Society Inc. d.b.a. Aubainerie (Fed. Ct. T-962-24): patent infringement case involving patents in garments (counsel for Pakage)

• dTechs EPM Ltd. v. BC Hydro et al. (Fed. Ct. T-227-17) (Fed. Ct. App. A-121-21): patent infringement case involving theft detection in electricity grids (counsel for BC Hydro). Fed Ct. found patent not infringed, invalid: 2021 FC 190. Appeal dismissed: 2023 FCA 115. Leave to appeal to SCC dismissed: No. 40869

• Farmobile LLC v. Farmers Edge Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-449-17): patent infringement case involving farm data collection and processing technology (counsel for Farmobile)

• M-I LLC v. Western Oilfield Equipment Rentals Ltd. (Fed. Ct. T-1056-15) (Fed. Ct. App. A-481-19): patent infringement case involving shale shakers (counsel for Western)

• Dean Schlosser v. Enbridge Pipelines Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-1268-22): patent infringement case involving pipeline cleaning devices (counsel for Schlosser)

• Zainul Ebrahim v. James Brownlee (BC Sup. Ct. S-208582): patent ownership and license case involving patents for diaper technology (counsel for Ebrahim). Summary trial granting all declaratory and injunctive relief, issued Oct. 28, 2022

Copyright & Industrial Design

• Cimatron Ltd. v. RMS Innovations, Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-3358-24): copyright infringement involving CAD/CAM software (counsel for Cimatron)

• Snowcap Trading Company Ltd. v. 1203063 B.C. LTD., dba BSS Distribution et al. (Fed. Ct. T-1957-24): copyright infringement involving characters in plush designs

• Dealer Media Inc. v. Canada Drives Ltd. (Fed. Ct. T-306-23): copyright infringement case involving automotive leads and advertisements (counsel for Dealer Media)

• Ark Innovation Technology Inc. v. 2xM Creations Inc. et al. (Fed. Ct. T-1269-22): copyright infringement case involving workflow management software (counsel for Ark) 

• Autoscan GmbH et al. v. 5121175 Manitoba Ltd. dba DCC Hail (Fed. Ct. T-359-20): copyright infringement case involving dent detection software (counsel for DCC Hail)

• Trimble Solutions Corporation et al v. Quantum Dynamics Inc. et al (Fed. Ct. T-885-19): copyright infringement case involving building information modeling software (counsel for Trimble). Default judgment granted: 2021 FC 63

• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Canada Limited v. Kobay Enstel Limited et al. (Fed. Ct. T-1119-19): copyright infringement case involving sheet metal forming software (counsel for Hexagon)

• Pyrrha Design Inc. v. Plum and Posey Inc. et al (Fed. Ct. T-2022-13) (Fed. Ct. App. A-98-19): copyright infringement case involving copyright in jewellery designs (counsel for Pyrrha)

• MBurger, LLC v. Browns Social House Ltd. (Fed. Ct. T-129-19) : copyright infringement case involving Super Duper Burgers logos (counsel for MBurger)

• 0912139 B.C. Ltd. et al. v. Rampion Enterprises Ltd. et al. (Fed. Ct. T-1476-16): copyright and industrial design infringement case involving underwear pouch designs (counsel for Plaintiffs)

• Caracal Consulting Inc. and Caracal Enterprises LLC v. Robert Suranyi (BC Sup. Ct. S-163919): copyright infringement case involving software for parking enforcement (counsel for Suranyi)

Trademark

• Caprice Holdings Limited v. West Georgia Lounge Holding Corp. (Fed. Ct. T-1282-24): expungement application proceeding involving West Georgia's IVY trademark (counsel for Caprice). Fed Ct. granted application and expunged mark: 2025 FC 68

• Comité interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne and Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité v. Coors Brewing Company (Fed. Ct. T-1050-21): trademark expungement case involving CHAMPAGNE OF BEERS trademarks (counsel for Coors). Registrations maintained: 2021 TMOB 78. Appeal dismissed: 2024 FC 169

• Pyrrha Design Inc. v. Mejuri Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-2114-23): trademark infringement involving PYRRHA trademark (counsel for Pyrrha)

• Amer Sports Canada Inc. v. adidas Canada Limited (BC Sup. Ct. S-231061): trademark infringement and passing-off involving ARC'TERYX trademark (counsel for adidas)

• Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP v. Winebow Inc., 2023 TMOB 219: trademark expungement case involving HIGH NOTE trademark (counsel for requesting party)

• ElleBoxCo Incorporated v. Blume Supply Inc., 2023 TMOB 203: opposition involving IT'S BLUME trademark (counsel for Blume)

• Cronos Group Inc. v. Dycar Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Fed. Ct. T-214-23): passing-off involving packaging and trademark infringement involving SOURZ BY SPINACH trademark (counsel for Cronos)

• Nitro AG v. Nitro Circus IP Holdings LP, 2023 TMOB 27: opposition involving NITRO CIRCUS trademark (counsel for Nitro Circus)

• BCF s.e.n.c.r.l./BCF LLP v. Nitro Circus IP Holdings LP, 2022 TMOB 196: trademark expungement case involving NITRO CIRCUS trademarks (counsel for registered owner)

• Great Wall Consulting International Ltd. v. Da Vinci Partners LLC, 2022 TMOB 213: opposition involving GREAT WALL trademark (counsel for Da Vinci)

• PCG Trading, LLC v. Synnex Corporation, 2022 TMOB 175: trademark expungement case involving CONVERGESOLV trademarks (counsel for registered owner)

• Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP v. Manu Sharma, 2021 TMOB 273: trademark expungement case involving OAK trademarks (counsel for requesting party)

• Canadian Osteopathic Association and American Osteopathic Association v. Society for the Promotion of Manual Practice Osteopathy (SPMPO), 2021 TMOB 269: opposition involving OsteopathyBC & Design trademark (counsel for SPMPO)

• PNC IP Group Professional Corporation v. Mark Anthony Group Inc., 2021 TMOB 268: trademark expungement case involving ICONIC trademark (counsel for Mark Anthony)

• Techno Pieux Inc. v. Techno Piles Inc. et al (Fed. Ct. T-969-21) : trademark infringement case involving TECHNO PIEUX trademarks (counsel for Techno Pieux). Summary judgment decision: 2022 FC 721. Summary trial granting declaratory, injunctive, and monetary relief: 2023 FC 581

• Kudoboard, Inc. v. Kudos, Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-1502-21): expungement application proceeding involving Kudos' trademarks (counsel for Kudos, Inc.)

• Panago Pizza Inc. v. Panagio's Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-877-21): trademark infringement case involving PANAGO trademarks (counsel for Panago)

• UBS Group AG v. Unified Business Solutions Group Inc. et al (Fed. Ct. T-771-21): trademark infringement case involving UBS trademarks (counsel for UBS Group). Default judgment granted: 2022 FC 132

• Churchill Brewing Corp. v. Prairie Baard Corp., 2021 TMOB 191: opposition involving Prairie Baard logo trademark (counsel for Prairie Baard)

• Sonos Inc. v. Duck Distribution Inc. et al (Fed. Ct. T-151-21): trademark infringement case involving counterfeit SONOS products (counsel for Sonos)

• Norsteel Building Systems Ltd. v. Toti Holdings Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-1180-20): expungement application proceeding involving Toti's NORSTEEL trademark (counsel for Norsteel Building Systems). Fed Ct. granted application and expunged mark: 2021 FC 927

• International Sail and Power Academy Inc. v. International Sail and Power Association et al (Fed. Ct. T-491-19): trademark infringement case involving ISPA trademarks and copyright infringement case involving copyright in sailing manuals (counsel for the Academy)

• Steven M. Ewing et al v. Yolks Breakfast Ltd. (Fed. Ct. T-149-19): trademark infringement and passing-off case involving YOLKS trademarks (counsel for Plaintiffs)

• Auto One Group Limited v. Auto One Vancouver Motor Ltd. et al (Fed. Ct. T-1034-20): trademark infringement of the AUTO ONE trademark (counsel for Auto One Group)

• Nail Cartel Inc. v. Ugly Duckling Nails Inc. et al (BC Sup. Ct. S1610681) : trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and passing-off case (counsel for Nail Cartel)

• Aird & Berlis LLP v Mark Anthony Group Inc., 2020 TMOB 47: trademark expungement case involving SCREW trademark (counsel for Mark Anthony)

• Anenda Systems Inc. v EasyTrim Reveals Inc., 2020 TMOB 96: trademark opposition case involving design trademarks for trim reveals (counsel for Anenda)

• Alibaba Group Holding Limited v Ilze Kaulins-Plaskacz, 2019 TMOB 90, 2018 TMOB 104, 2018 TMOB 105: trademark opposition and expungement cases involving ALIBABA trademarks (counsel for Alibaba)

Other

• Martin Jon Cox and Superior Tray Systems Inc. v. Diane Susan Cox (BC Sup. Ct. S-212261): confidential information case involving cable tray designs (counsel for Superior Tray)

• Keezio Group, LLC v. The Shrunks' Family Toy Company Inc. and David Cirjak (BC Sup. Ct. S-1914059): case involving defamation and economic torts involving alleged false statements regarding Defendants' alleged IP rights (counsel for Keezio). Summary trial granting claims under section 7(a) of the Trademarks Act, and monetary relief: 2024 BCSC 64

• 612431 B.C. Ltd. dba Maple Leaf Powder Company v. Summit Lift Company Ltd. et al (BC Sup. Ct. S-194467): trade secret and confidential information and copyright infringement case involving avalanche gun designs (counsel for Summit Lift)