Canada: Trademark

The Government of Alberta has reportedly become the first jurisdiction in Canada to use artificial intelligence (“AI”) in the initial drafting of the Alberta Whisky Act (the “Whisky Act”). The Whisky Act, which came into effect on May 21, 2026, establishes new standards and definitions for what qualifies as “Alberta Whisky”, including requirements relating to production standards, ingredients, and processes. According to the province, AI was used as part of the drafting process, with government officials and legislative counsel retaining responsibility for review, revision, and all levels of approval.

The Government of Canada has initiated a comprehensive public consultation to examine whether geographical indications protection should extend beyond wines, spirits, agricultural products and food to include traditional craft and industrial products. This review marks the first major assessment of Canada's GI regime since 2017 and could align the country with jurisdictions like the European Union, which recently implemented a framework for protecting craft and industrial geographical indications.

Trademark scams targeting Canadian business owners are on the rise, with fraudsters impersonating lawyers and government officials to pressure victims into paying unnecessary fees or sharing sensitive information.