E-TIPS

On February 18, 2025, the Québec Commission d’accès à l’information (the CAI) issued a decision prohibiting Metro Inc. (Metro) from establishing a bank of biometric data for a pilot project aimed at preventing shoplifting and fraud.

On March 18, 2025, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) published further guidance on the amendments to the Trademarks Act (the Act) and the Trademarks Regulations (the Regulations) that confer new authorities on the Registrar of Trademarks (the Registrar). The newest guidance from CIPO provides additional information about the amendments relating to official marks.

On March 6, 2025, the Government of Canada (the Government) announced three new initiatives aimed at promoting the responsible and secure adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). These initiatives include a refreshed membership for the Advisory Council on AI, the launch of the Safe and Secure AI Advisory Group, and the release of a guide for managers of AI systems to support the implementation of Canada’s Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems (the Voluntary Generative AI Code).

Neurotechnology is rapidly advancing into the consumer market with devices like brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and electroencephalogram (EEG) headsets becoming more accessible to individuals. In addition to offering groundbreaking possibilities, the rapid growth of this technology has triggered alarm bells across the globe regarding whether adequate privacy protections are in place for consumer data. This article explores the rise of neurotechnology, its privacy implications, and global regulatory efforts to address these challenges.

On February 26, 2025, the Regulations Amending the Trademarks Regulations (the Regulations) were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II. The Regulations come into force on April 1, 2025.

On March 3, 2025, The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (the OPC) announced that it filed an application with the Federal Court (the Court) seeking an order to require Aylo, one of the world’s largest operators of pornographic sites, including Pornhub, to take necessary steps to comply with Canada’s federal private sector privacy law, the Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

On February 18, 2025, the Federal Court (the Court) issued its decision in Chwaja v. 0710674 BC Ltd. (Cottonmouth), 2025 FC 312, which upheld a Trademark Opposition Board (TMOB) decision that declared a trademark application for the mark “Cotton Mouth” (the Application) abandoned; and noted that the TMOB lacked jurisdiction to revisit its own decisions once final.

On February 21, 2025, the Federal Court of Canada (the Court) issued its decision in Provexis Nutrition Limited v. Robichaud, 2025 FC 347, allowing an appeal from a decision of the Trademarks Opposition Board (TMOB) expunging Provexis Nutrition Limited’s (the Applicant’s) trademark registration for FRUITFLOW & Design (the Mark).

On February 11, 2025, the Government of Canada (the Government) published its report summarizing the feedback received from a recent consultation regarding the effects of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on copyright policy and the marketplace. Overall, the Government found a lack of consensus among stakeholders for most identified issues, though there was a significant interest in improving transparency for copyright-protected content used in AI development.

On February 11, 2025, in Thomson Reuters Enterprise Centre GMBH and West Publishing Corp., v Ross Intelligence Inc., No.1:20-cv-613-SB, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware ( the “Court”) granted summary judgment for Thomson Reuters on its direct copyright infringement claims and related arguments denying fair use made against the artificial intelligence (AI) based legal research platform, Ross Intelligence Inc. (“Ross”).

On February 14, 2025, the Federal Court of Canada (the Court) issued its decision in Habbous v Arc Physio Health Ltd., 2025 FC 297, finding that Arc Physio Health Ltd. (the Respondent) had infringed, passed off, and depreciated the goodwill of the registered trademark PHYSIOHEALTH STUDIOS (the Mark).

On February 10, 2025, the Federal Court (the Court) issued its decision in Bayer Inc. v Amgen Canada Inc., 2025 FC 264, dismissing Bayer Inc. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s (the Plaintiffs) appeal of an order denying their request to compel Amgen Canada Inc. (Amgen) to produce samples of its cell culture media used in manufacturing Amgen’s biosimilar (ABP 938).

On February 6, 2025, Canada’s Minister of Public safety announced the release of Canada’s Sensitive Technology List (STL), which includes emerging technologies or technologies with novel applications that Canada regards as having national security implications and seeks to protect from unwanted transfer to foreign threat actors. The STL is intended to act like the United States’ Critical and Emerging Technologies List and will contribute to advancing technological competitiveness while bolstering Canada’s national security.

On January 29, 2025, the Federal Court of Canada (the Court) issued its decision in T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. v Glidepath Technologies Inc., 2025 FC 179, finding that the Trademarks Opposition Board (the Board) erred in its assessment of the degree of resemblance of the trademarks at issue and directing that Glidepath Technologies Inc.’s (Glidepath’s) application to register its LIVE WITH CONFIDENCE mark (the Mark) be refused.

On February 4, 2025, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) issued its decision in Taillefer v. Canada (Attorney General), 2025 FCA 28, upholding a Federal Court (FC) decision dismissing Robert Taillefer’s (the Appellant’s) application for judicial review of the Commissioner of Patents’ (the Commissioner’s) refusal to reinstate Canadian Patent No. 2,690,767 (the 767 Patent) following its expiration in 2020 due to the non-payment of maintenance fees.

On January 31, 2025, the Federal Court of Canada (the Court) issued its decision in Young v Li, 2025 FC 210, finding that the respondent, 1000237903 ONTARIO INC. (903 Ontario), infringed, passed off and depreciated the goodwill of the registered trademarks DAHU HOTPOT and DAHU HOTPOT & Design. (collectively, the Marks) in the operation of a restaurant in the Greater Toronto Area.

On January 22, 2025, the Federal Court of Canada (the Court) in Bell Media Inc. v John Doe 1 (Soap2day), 2025 FC 133, provided its reasons for a Site-Blocking Order (the Order) issued last year, which required selected internet service providers (Third Party Respondents) to prevent access to websites and internet services associated with the operation of certain piracy platforms.

On January 6, 2025, the Federal Court (the Court) issued its decision in Sea Tow Services International, Inc. v C-Tow Marine Assistance Ltd., 2025 FC 27, striking Sea Tow Services International Inc.’s (Sea Tow) SEA TOW & DESIGN and SEA TOW trademarks (the Sea Tow Marks) from the Register and granting summary judgment in favour of C-Tow Marine Assistance Ltd. (C-Tow) on a related motion heard at the same time.

On January 22, 2025, the Federal Court of Canada (the Court) issued its decision in Matco Tools Corporation v Canada (Attorney General), 2025 FC 118, setting aside a decision of the Commissioner of Patents (the Commissioner) to refuse to reinstate Matco Tools Corporation’s (the Applicant) Patent Application No. 3,086,194 (the 194 Application), which was deemed abandoned for failure to pay maintenance fees.

On January 15, 2025, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) published a new Technology and Cyber Incident Reporting Form (the New Incident Reporting Form). The New Incident Reporting Form will come into effect on April 1, 2025. Until then, federally regulated financial institutions (FRFIs) must use the existing incident reporting form to report cyber security incidents to OSFI.