Substantial Amendments To Canada’s "Patent Rules" Now In Force

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

Recent US case law has raised the possibility that the common practice of including an expiry date in a non-disclosure agreement or "NDA" (also known as a confidentiality agreement)...

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.

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.

Canada's Trademarks Opposition Board has introduced new requirements for handling confidential evidence in trademark proceedings, mandating the use of Canada Post's secure digital platform.

Canada and the United States have escalated their trade war with new retaliatory tariffs and import prohibitions taking effect in September 2026. What specific goods are now subject to these measures, and how do the complex layers of tariffs interact to impact cross-border commerce? This comprehensive analysis breaks down the latest developments in the deteriorating Canada-U.S. economic relationship.

As Canada and the United States escalate their trade dispute with new retaliatory tariffs, businesses face mounting compliance challenges across multiple sectors. This analysis examines the comprehensive tariff landscape affecting bilateral trade, including Canada's September 8, 2026 surtaxes on U.S. imports and the corresponding American section 338 tariffs, detailing rates, exemptions, and the legal frameworks governing these measures.

The Canada Revenue Agency has announced a new priority system for advance income tax ruling requests, targeting investments of at least $1 billion in Canada. This initiative aims to accelerate the tax certainty process for major investors by reducing processing times and providing binding guidance on how specific Income Tax Act provisions apply to proposed transactions.

Canada's new Productivity Mega Deduction permanently provides immediate expensing for a wide range of depreciable property and Canadian development expenses, dramatically expanding the scope beyond the previously announced Productivity Super Deduction. The measure aims to reduce Canada's marginal effective tax rate on new business investment to 6.4%, positioning it as the lowest among major economies and less than half the U.S. rate.

This comprehensive legislative update covers recent regulatory changes, proclamations, and proposed regulations across Canada's federal government and all provinces and territories.

Alternative practice structures (APS), already firmly established in the United States, are generating significant interest and activity in the Canadian market, particularly in regard to accounting firms.

The Ontario Securities Commission's 2026 survey reveals significant shifts in Canadian cryptocurrency adoption, awareness, and sentiment. With ownership rates more than doubling since 2023 and a growing belief that crypto will play a key role in Canada's financial system, the findings paint a picture of an evolving landscape where traditional financial advisors increasingly recommend crypto investments, yet regulatory awareness remains surprisingly low among the general population.

Osler's Legislative Update is a bi-weekly listing of new legislation. This issue covers legislation for the period 8/20 to 09/09.

Toronto-based generative AI company Cohere has gone from being a largely unknown Canadian startup a few years ago to grabbing headlines in the Wall Street Journal, the New York...

The Government of Canada has launched its highly anticipated Defence Drone Initiative to accelerate the development, testing, production and procurement of Canadian uncrewed and autonomous systems for the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard.