Northwest Territories v. Sirius Diamonds Ltd. et al., (2001) 208 F.T.R. 7 (TD)

• Judge: Hansen, J.
• Court: Federal Court (Canada)
• Case Date: June 08, 2001
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (2001), 208 F.T.R. 7 (TD)

NWT v. Sirius Diamonds Ltd. (2001), 208 F.T.R. 7 (TD)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2001] F.T.R. TBEd. JL.030

Government of the Northwest Territories (plaintiff/applicant) v. Sirius Diamonds Ltd. and Sirius Diamonds NWT Ltd. (defendants/respondents)

(T-822-00; 2001 FCT 702)

Indexed As: Northwest Territories v. Sirius Diamonds Ltd. et al.

Federal Court of Canada

Trial Division

Hansen, J.

June 26, 2001.

Summary:

The plaintiff, the Northwest Territories, sued the defendants for copyright, trademark and official mark infringement and passing off, respecting the defendants' use of a particular mark, namely a polar bear. The plaintiff applied for an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants' activities pending trial.

The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, dismissed the application.

Injunctions - Topic 1610

Interlocutory or interim injunctions - Circumstances when injunction will not be granted - The plaintiff, the Northwest Territories, sued the defendants for copyright, trademark and official mark infringement and passing off, respecting the defendants' use of a particular mark, namely a polar bear - The plaintiff applied for an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants' activities pending trial - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, refused to grant the injunction - The court rejected the plaintiff's argument that it should depart from the tripartite test for interlocutory injunctions set out in RJR-MacDonald (SCC) in this case - In applying the tripartite test, the court held the plaintiff failed to meet the evidentiary burden of establishing irreparable harm.

Injunctions - Topic 1802

Interlocutory or interim injunctions - Requirement of irreparable harm - What constitutes - [See Injunctions - Topic 1610 ].

Injunctions - Topic 6305

Particular matters - Injury to trade - Passing off - [See Injunctions - Topic 1610 ].

Injunctions - Topic 6307

Particular matters - Injury to trade - Improper use of trademarks, names or designs - [See Injunctions - Topic 1610 ].

Injunctions - Topic 6311

Particular matters - Injury to trade - Copyright infringement - [See Injunctions - Topic 1610 ].

Cases Noticed:

RJR-MacDonald Inc. et Imperial Tobacco Ltd. v. Canada (Procureur général), [1994] 1 S.C.R. 311; 164 N.R. 1; 60 Q.A.C. 241; 111 D.L.R.(4th) 385; 54 C.P.R.(3d) 114, refd to. [para. 40].

Centre Ice Ltd. v. National Hockey League et al. (1994), 166 N.R. 44; 53 C.P.R.(3d) 34 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 40].

American Cyanamid Co. v. Ethicon Ltd., [1975] A.C. 396; [1975] 1 All E.R. 504; [1975] 2 W.L.R. 316 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 40].

N.W.L. Ltd. v. Woods, [1979] 1 W.L.R. 1294 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 43].

Caterpillar Inc. et al. v. Chaussures Mario Moda Inc. (1995), 99 F.T.R. 299; 62 C.P.R.(3d) 388 (T.D.), refd to. [para 45].

M.M. International Business Directories Ltd. v. International Business Index, [2000] F.C.J. No. 1338 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 45].

Lassonde (A.) Inc. v. Island Oasis Canada Inc. et al. (2000), 273 N.R. 179 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 45].

British Columbia v. Mihaljevic (1986), 10 C.P.R.(3d) 374 (B.C.S.C.), affd. (1991), 36 C.P.R.(3d) 445 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 47].

Canadian Olympic Association v. Donkirk International Inc. (1987), 16 F.T.R. 191; 17 C.P.R.(3d) 299 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 47].

Stadium Corp. of Ontario Ltd. v. Wagon-Wheel Concessions Ltd. et al. (1989), 29 F.T.R. 241; 25 C.P.R.(3d) 293 (F.C.T.D.), refd to. [para. 47].

Big Sisters Association of Ontario and Big Sisters of Canada v. Big Brothers of Canada (1994), 80 F.T.R. 289; 56 C.P.R.(3d) 355 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 47].

Canadian Olympic Association v. Allied Corp. and Registrar of Trademarks (1990), 105 N.R. 388; 28 C.P.R.(3d) 161 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 48].

Canadian Olympic Association v. Health Care Employees Union of Alberta (1992), 59 F.T.R. 37; 46 C.P.R.(3d) 12 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 49].

Matrix Photocatalytic Inc. v. Purifics Environmental Technologies Inc. (1994), 58 C.P.R.(3d) 289 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 60].

Syntex Inc. v. Novopharm Ltd. (1991), 126 N.R. 114; 36 C.P.R.(3d) 129 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 60].

Imperial Chemical Industries plc et al. v. Apotex Inc. (1989), 101 N.R. 147; 27 C.P.R.(3d) 345 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 61].

CIBA-Geigy Canada Ltd. v. Novopharm Ltd. et al. (1994), 83 F.T.R. 161; 56 C.P.R.(3d) 289 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 62].

Orkin Exterminating Co. v. Pestco Co. of Canada Ltd. and Valder (1985), 10 O.A.C. 14; 5 C.P.R.(3d) 433 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 79].

Yale Electric Corp. v. Robertson (1928), 26 F. 2d 972 (2nd Cir. C.A.), refd to. [para. 79].

Interprovincial Lottery Corp. et al. v. Lottery Jackpot Ltd. et al. (1994), 88 F.T.R. 81; 59 C.P.R.(3d) 100 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 79].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Sharpe, J.A., Injunctions and Specific Performance (Looseleaf), pp. 2-26 [para. 57]; 2-29, 2-30 [para. 58].

Counsel:

Scott Miller, for the plaintiff;

David McGruder, for the defendants.

Solicitors of Record:

Marusyk Miller & Swain, Ottawa, Ontario, for the plaintiff;

Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala, Vancouver, British Columbia, for the defendants.

This motion was heard at Ottawa, Ontario, on June 8, 2001, before Hansen, J., of the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, who delivered the following decision on June 26, 2001.