Open ProvincesAI-generated content: copyright, permissions and responsible use in Canada
Assess authorship, source material, tool terms, privacy and disclosure before publishing AI-assisted writing, images, music or code.
Adapted from a guide first written for Quebec readers: passages specific to Quebec were removed. Rules in your province may differ.
Do not assume that an output is automatically free of copyright or other restrictions because a model generated it. The result may resemble protected work, contain material supplied by a user, or be governed by the tool's terms. Copyright law and court interpretation can also evolve.
Before publishing or selling
- Read the service terms for commercial use, attribution, indemnity and ownership language.
- Use only inputs you have permission to submit, especially confidential or personal data.
- Review outputs for copied text, recognizable images, trademarks, factual errors and harmful stereotypes.
- Keep prompts, drafts, source files and human-editing records for important work.
- Check client, employer, school, grant and platform rules on AI disclosure.
When rights matter
For a commercial release, commissioned work or dispute, get advice from a copyright professional. A tool's terms do not replace statutory rights, and a licence to use an output may not guarantee that it is unique or legally clear.
Read the Canadian Intellectual Property Office copyright guidance and the specific AI service terms before relying on an output.
Sources and limits
Source: Canadian Intellectual Property Office — copyright (https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canadian-intellectual-property-office/en/copyright). AI service terms and the legal treatment of generated material may change; this is not legal advice.
General information based on federal and national rules; provincial rules may differ. Confirm with the official body before acting.