Articles 2020

On January 6, 2021, WhatsApp announced that it would update its Privacy Policy to help it better integrate with other Facebook products, making sharing information with Facebook mandatory for WhatsApp users. This prompted many responses online calling for users to leave WhatsApp and to use more “privacy friendly” messaging apps, such as Telegram and Signal. This article discusses the impact of WhatsApp's new Privacy Policy on Canadian users.

In November 2020, the federal government introduced Bill C-11 (The Digital Charter Implementation Act). The proposed bill would overhaul Canada’s existing federal private sector privacy law PIPEDA with a modernized replacement known as the Consumer Privacy Protection Act.

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.