Articles 2021

Science and innovation can profoundly affect our capacity to prevent, detect, and treat disease.  Now, more than ever, the world has clear insight into the vital role of research and discovery in protecting our collective health and wellbeing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Canadians to stay at home and rely on their devices for far more essential services than they did in the past. The increased demand for digital tools has boosted innovation, fast-tracking the creation of new technology to assist Canadians in different aspects of their daily lives. Unfortunately, Canada’s privacy laws have not undergone similar upgrades to be compatible with our current lifestyle.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office published its report entitled Public Views on Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property Policy addressing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technology across the intellectual property landscape. This two-part article focuses on the views expressed in the Report with respect to the impact of AI on trademark law and practice.

In today’s modern age robots are key players in both our professional and daily lives. We witness robots repairing oil pipes deep in the ocean, performing surgical procedures in hospitals, and undertaking household tasks such as vacuuming. Some cities have even restructured their public transportation and implemented driverless subway systems, while cars perform autonomous functions such as intelligent parking assistance.

A message from the Chair of the OBA's Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law Section for the 2020-2021 term.

Representatives from the music, publishing, and sports industries intervene in TekSavvy's appeal from the decision of the Federal Court of Canada, which ordered certain ISPs in Canada to block access to pirate subscription streaming sites. This was the first decision in which Canadian courts ordered sites to be blocked for copyright infringement.