Interview – Protecting Your Image Against AI (Podcast)

The regulations affecting trademarks weren't fully in effect until 2025. More than a year later, the number of complaints against businesses has never been higher.

In Ontario, business owners typically consider franchising versus licensing as they plan to grow their company. Both methods promote growth through the resources of a third party, but they work in dramatically different ways.

CanLII, Canada's free legal database, and Caseway, an AI legal research platform, have reportedly reached a settlement in their copyright dispute over the use of legal case data for artificial intelligence training purposes. The resolution addresses concerns about unauthorized use of publicly available legal materials and the boundaries of AI development in the legal technology sector.

Canada's Intellectual Property Office has introduced a new expedited examination program for patent applications in critical technology sectors. The Key Technology Expedited Program waives the advanced examination fee and promises first office action within seven months for qualifying applications related to critical minerals supply chain innovations.

For Canadian innovators, the patenting process can seem unreasonably slow. In an effort to address this, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) created various procedures to expedite the examination process in Canada. Knowing which fast track options exist, when they make sense, and how to use them effectively can provide a significant commercial advantage.

Trademark owners facing expungement for failing to file evidence of use in section 45 proceedings may have recourse through the Federal Court appeal process. The recent Lion Corporation case demonstrates how administrative errors by trademark agents can be remedied, allowing registrants to file additional evidence and potentially reinstate their registrations when the failure was beyond their control.

The rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure has made these facilities a focal point for technological innovation and intellectual property investment. From server configurations to advanced cooling systems, the technologies deployed inside data centres represent significant R&D expenditure and competitive advantages. Patent protection offers operators and developers opportunities to safeguard innovations...

Are you ready for changes to the Charter of the French Language ("Charter") that will come into force on June 1, 2025? Bill 96 was enacted on June 1, 2022, with its various provisions taking effect...

The patent landscape is evolving as entrepreneurs and investors seek new approaches to protecting IP rights consistently across jurisdictions. Organizations like the Intellectual Property Owners Association provide forums to voice concerns, analyze issues, and advance policies aimed at accelerating innovation across borders.

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has issued new guidance on when trademark applicants can redact postal addresses or remove documents from public records. Understanding these strict requirements and exceptional circumstances is crucial for protecting privacy while maintaining compliance with Canada's trademark registration transparency obligations.

Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, proposes significant amendments to the Canada Labour Code that will reshape collective bargaining timelines, ministerial intervention powers, and union certification processes for federally regulated employers. The legislation introduces new conditions for government intervention in labour disputes, accelerates bargaining deadlines for certain collective agreements, and expands obligations for airport service providers.

New draft regulations clarify which federally regulated private businesses must comply with French language obligations under the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act.

Starting October 20, 2026, federally regulated employers in Canada must comply with new equal treatment requirements that prohibit wage differences based on employment status for comparable work. The regulations establish specific criteria for comparing employees, outline permissible exceptions to equal treatment, and impose new obligations on temporary help agencies.

The federal government has introduced a temporary public policy to allow eligible temporary foreign workers in Québec to obtain a new work permit valid for up to 12 months.

The Act to give greater consideration to the needs of the population in the event of a strike or a lock-out will come into effect on November 30, 2025.

Le projet de loi C-39 propose des modifications majeures au Code canadien du travail qui transformeraient les relations de travail dans les milieux syndiqués de compétence fédérale. Ces changements incluent un nouvel encadrement des interventions ministérielles, des négociations collectives plus hâtives et une prolongation du processus de conciliation.

On May 13, 2021, the Minister of Justice and Minister Responsible for the French Language, Simon Jolin-Barrette, tabled Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec ("Bill 96").

The Court of Québec has clarified the interpretation of section 22 of Quebec's Access to Information Act, determining that public bodies need not prove "economic loss" when refusing document disclosure. The ruling addresses whether universities and other public institutions can withhold pedagogical materials and technical information when disclosure might cause losses or benefit third parties, establishing a new standard for applying access to information exceptions.

On April 25, 2025, the Financial Markets Administrative Tribunal (the "FMAT") issued its first ruling on the admissibility of expert reports on cryptocurrencies.

The Alberta Court of Appeal examines whether equity investors can initiate CCAA proceedings against foreign entities without Canadian assets, and whether such proceedings can encompass solvent companies.