People

Services

Industries

Firm

About

Knowledge

Careers

News

Events

Contact

Connect

Privacy Policy

Disclaimer

Terms of Use

Accessibility

Legal

Calgary

Toronto

Edmonton

Ottawa

Vancouver

New York

Montréal

Ahmed Elmallah

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Counsel, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

Benjamin K. Reingold

Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Stephen Thaler has appealed the Commissioner of Patents&rsquo; refusal to recognize his AI system, DABUS, as an inventor under the Patent Act. The case raises legal and practical questions as AI systems play a growing role in generating novel inventions. The outcome could influence how Canadian innovators protect AI-driven discoveries, particularly in pharmaceutical R&amp;D.

Appeal Filed Thaler Challenges Refusal to Recognize AI

Appeal Filed: Thaler Challenges Refusal to Recognize AI as an Inventor on a Patent—Implications Beyond Inventorship

David Wainer

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Associate

This end-of-year overview examines the Federal Government&rsquo;s rapid expansion of AI-related funding in 2025, from large-scale investments in data centres and public compute infrastructure to programs supporting AI access, adoption and domestic research. It also explores the new commitments announced in Budget 2025 and signals key trends to watch in 2026 as Canada strengthens its AI ecosystem.

Canadas AI Efforts in 2025 A Year in Review

Canada's AI Efforts in 2025: A Year in Review

This article explores how Ad Standards Canada&rsquo;s Code applies to influencer marketing and AI-generated content, focusing on accuracy, disclosure and testimonial rules, along with best practices for compliance.

Canadian Code of Advertising Standards for Influencer Marketing

Canadian Code of Advertising Standards for Influencer Marketing: Key Clauses and Application to AI-Generated Content and Influencers 

J. Sébastien A. Gittens

Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Matthew Flynn

Technology Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

AI is rapidly integrating into enterprise workflows, yet vendor agreements often lag behind in safeguarding organizational risk. This article highlights the hidden hazards in standard AI terms and conditions, including data usage, IP ownership, liability limits and regulatory compliance gaps and outlines strategies to strengthen contractual oversight.

The Hidden Hazards of Vendor AI Terms and Conditions

"We signed what?!": The Hidden Hazards of Vendor AI Terms and Conditions

Daron K. Naffin

Energy, Environmental/Regulatory and Expropriation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Tim Myers

Regulatory, Environmental, Aboriginal and Expropriation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Thomas Machell

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

The Alberta Energy Regulator has released new editions of Directive 071 and Manual 026, significantly expanding emergency preparedness and response requirements. This post outlines the key changes, including mandatory Emergency Management Programs, expanded scope across resource sectors, enhanced hazard analysis standards, and what approval holders should do ahead of the February 2, 2026 effective date.

Alberta Energy Regulator Announces New Editions of Directive 071 and Manual 026

Ethan Z. Schiff

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Morgan Sutherland

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate 

Health Canada has released a Notice of Intent proposing new safety requirements for certain lithium-ion battery consumer products under the CCPSA. The proposed framework would introduce mandatory safety standards, with exemptions for specific regulated products, and is now open for stakeholder consultation until February 14, 2026.

Incoming Lithium Ion Battery Regulations Health Canada Wants to Hear from You

Incoming Lithium-Ion Battery Regulations—Health Canada Wants to Hear from You 

Serge Dupont

Senior Advisor at Bennett Jones Ottawa

Senior Advisor

<p>The U.S. and global economies proved resilient in 2025. There were reasons, particularly around U.S. President Donald Trump&rsquo;s April 1 &ldquo;Liberation Day,&rdquo; to fear a global trade war or corrections in financial markets that would cause a recession in the United States and a sharp slowing of the global economy. In fact, while growth in the United States and most major economies slowed in 2025, other policy and market factors offset at least in part the early effect of disruptive policies by the U.S. administration. The United States&rsquo;s trading partners chose to avoid an all-out trade war, and most negotiated some form of accommodation with President Trump.</p>

Economic Outlook 2026

Adapting to a New World: From Ambition to Investment

Curtis A. Cusinato

Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Vice Chair and Partner

Spencer Daniel

Nadia Plawiuk

<p>In recent years, private equity investment in sports has surged globally, marking a transformative shift in the financial and operational landscape of professional athletics. The global sports market was valued at nearly US$516 billion in 2024, with forecasts projecting it will surpass US$893 billion by 2034. Major North American leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS have responded to this momentum by easing ownership restrictions since 2020, allowing private equity firms to acquire minority stakes and fueling increased deal activity. In 2024, minority investments accounted for 48% of deal volume, reflecting a growing trend in passive investment structures. Today, over 74 North American sports teams are backed or affiliated with private equity, with many more viewing private equity as a strategic growth partner amid rising team valuations and evolving monetization models.</p>

How Private Equity is Changing the Game for North American Sports and Beyond

Title Alphabetical

Title

BennettJones

Burns Stephen

Pensions Benefits