Canada: New Technology

Welcome to the Spring 2026 issue of Blakes Data Governor, published by the Blakes Privacy & Data Protection group. Blakes Data Governor provides actionable insights and practical overviews of recent developments impacting privacy, cybersecurity, access to information and artificial intelligence (AI) governance law in Canada.

The past few months have brought milestones worth sharing. We were named a Top Diversity Employer for the eighth consecutive year, and we welcomed 23 new lawyers to partnership. These moments build on the inclusive culture and leadership that so many of you helped shape during your time at BLG.

The Communications and Digital Committee of the United Kingdom House of Lords recently released its fourth report, AI, Copyright and the Creative Industries, as part of its ongoing inquiry into the interaction...

When Taylor Swift files trademark applications to protect her brand against AI-generated imitations, it quickly becomes a trending topic. It’s Taylor Swift after all...

Shareholder activism in Canada used to feel manageable. Campaigns were fewer, timelines were slower, and outcomes were often negotiated quietly. That environment has changed.

Artificial intelligence has entered a new phase: models can take actions—deploy code, interact with enterprise systems and operate through automated agents—with real-world consequences.

Corporate investment in AI continues to accelerate globally and patent filings for AI-related inventions are rising across every major jurisdiction. The threshold question, “Is this invention eligible for patent protection?” has become a central battleground for AI and software innovators.

Le paysage commercial, juridique et réglementaire évolue rapidement et, pour réussir en 2026, les organisations se doivent d’être bien préparées.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal (BCCA) recently confirmed the British Columbia courts’ jurisdictional competence over foreign litigants that conduct business virtually with British Columbians. In Airbnb, Inc. v. Ware, the BCCA partially allowed Airbnb’s appeal of certification, finding that the real and substantial connection analysis cannot be based solely on a foreign entity’s relationship to other defendants or ancillary activities. In Clearview AI Inc. v. British Columbia (Information and Privacy Commissioner), the BCCA held that provincial privacy law applies to foreign businesses that operate online.