We’ve all been there: you’re sitting at your computer, task in hand, ready to chip away. Suddenly the blank Word doc is staring at you, and your mind is blank. It’s writer’s block. It’s happening. Here are five tactics for breaking the block: 1. Give yourself permission to ebb and flow in the creative process. Creativity requires failure, and from our failings, refinement is born. 2. Try talking to a non-lawyer. Tell them about the matter you are working on (within the scope of solicitor-client privilege, of course), the issues, and your positions and interests. Speaking to a non-lawyer will f ..read more

By now you likely have come across some coverage (examples here, here, here, here, and here) of the newly announced  Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2020, (Government of Canada’s Fact Sheet here), which proposes significant changes to the national framework for the protection of personal information in Canada. But, have you caught a webinar (which are usually more insightful than a law firm alert or legislative summary can be)? Osler’s is offering this on-demand webinar, which delivers commentary and insights on the new Bill ..read more

Here are some of the enlightening, quirky or rad things that caught our eye this weekend.. The Bay Street ex-con who fooled his investors—twice (via TorontoLife) Negative Reviews for Scented Candles Rise Along with COVID-19 Cases (via Interesting Engineering) 6 Small Steps for Handling the Emotional Ups and Downs at Work (via First Round Review) My Mum and Mister Rogers (via The Walrus) What gems can be found in 30-year-old hockey card packs!? (via SportsNet) The Sad KISS Float at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Is a Perfect Metaphor for 2020 (via Exclaim!) Giant Rats Are Sniffing Out Lan ..read more

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) recently released new guidelines on patentable subject matter and a set of examples applying the new guidelines to computer-implemented inventions, medical diagnostic methods, and medical uses. Notably, these new guidelines supersede current guidance within the Manual of Patent Office Practice for determining patentable subject matter and introduce a new three-step process for determining patentable subject matter. The steps are: Identify “essential elements” of a claim; Determine an “actual invention” of the claim; and Determine ..read more

Who would have thought that a corporation could have their Charter rights infringed and suffer cruel and unusual treatment or punishment? In case you did, the Supreme Court has put an end to any such possibility. Last week, the SCC rendered its decision in Quebec (Attorney General) v. 9147-0732 Québec inc. Davies, which acted the intervener Association des avocats de la défense de Montréal (Montréal Criminal Lawyers’ Association) in the Supreme Court of Canada, has a good summary of the decision. In three separate sets of reasons, the Supreme Court overturned the majority opinion of ..read more

Here are some of the enlightening, quirky or rad things that caught our eye this weekend: Alex Trebek was a University of Ottawa alumnus. The university has issued this touching statement on his passing. 11 Memorable Facts About Alex Trebek (via MentalFloss) Ryan Reynolds & Canada Goose Donated Over 300 Coats To Children In Nunavut (via Narcity) 15 Surprising Facts You May Not Know About Diwali (via Culture Trip) Brier, Scotties among major curling events likely relocating to Calgary bubble (via CBC) Inside Toronto’s Thriving Underground Sneaker Resale Market (via Complex) Jann Arden On S ..read more

Torys has put together a text and video a guide on considerations and the best practices to help prepare for a board meeting. While the FAQ is aimed at startup or scaleup founders, it offers some helpful insights for just about any board. Go here to access the FAQ from Torys ..read more

The Ontario Security Commission (OSC) is launching a provincial “regulatory sandbox,” which will allow startups to experiment with novel formats of raising capital while minimizing regulatory burden. The decision included as part of a larger OSC announcement made last week, where the regulator announced the publication of the charter for its Innovation Office. The charter outlines priorities for the OSC’s innovation office, which was first announced over the spring. The innovation office is being led by Pat Chaukos and is expected to be fully operational by March 2021. Canadian tech ..read more

I came across a thought-provoking post on the Contract Nerds blog on the issue of implicit bias in cross-border contracts. Nada Alnajafi, corporate counsel at Franklin Templeton, writes about how there is a bias in international commercial contracts as they are virtually always written in English. “Recently, there has been a heightened focus on inclusivity, equitable workplaces, and addressing systemic biases.  Good companies have recognized that eliminating common biases in the workplace is business-critical. Customers are demanding heightened awareness from their vendors. Even in-house ..read more

Here are some of the enlightening, quirky or rad things that caught our eye this weekend: 7 Totally Random Canadian Laws That Could Accidentally Land You In Trouble (via NARCITY) The Oral History of Seinfeld’s ‘The Contest’ (via Vulture) “Legal Genius” Pleads Guilty to Fraud (via Lowering the Bar) Zoom Finally Has End-to-End Encryption. Here’s How to Use It (via Wired) Driverless race car sums up 2020 by swerving into a wall for no reason (via Mashable) How Pandemic Life Brought These Women To The Skate Park (via Chatelaine) 3 Things Business Owners Need to Know About Driverless Trucks ..read more