Canadian IP Law and AI: Inventorship and Authorship

Canadian IP Law and AI: Inventorship and Authorship

Thursday, June 18, 2026, 12 to 1 p.m. ET  Virtual Webinar

Can an AI system invent subject matter of a patent?

Can an AI system author copyright protected works?

Moderators: 

Maya Medeiros and Aarani Stoneham 

Featuring:

Gervas Wall will discuss Stephen L. Thaler v. Attorney General of Canada (T-4928-25) which considers whether an AI system can be an inventor on a patent. Dr. Stephen Thaler filed a Canadian patent application listing his AI system, DABUS, as the sole inventor. On June 9, 2025, the Commissioner of Patents officially refused the application, concluding that an "inventor" must be a natural human being. On December 5, 2025, Thaler filed a Notice of Appeal in the Federal Court. Gervas is counsel for Dr. Thaler and the case is ongoing before the court.

Gary Daniel will discuss Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) v Sahni (T-1717-24) which raises questions about who, or what, can be an author under the Copyright Act. In 2021, Mr. Sahni obtained a copyright registration for an image SURYAST generated using an AI application called RAGHAV Artificial Intelligence Painting App. In 2024, CIPPIC filed an application in the Federal Court to expunge or rectify a copyright registration that identifies an artificial intelligence (AI) system as a co-author. Gary is lead counsel for Sahni and the case is ongoing before the court.

Fees:

FREE: CAN-TECH Members and Non-Members