Law Dictionary

An assignment of software licences is the transfer of a party's rights as licensee under a software licence to another party, usually in a business sale. The licensee normally does not own the software, only a right to use it, and many licences, especially commercial and subscription licences, prohibit assignment without the vendor's consent.

An assignment of trademarks is the transfer of ownership of a trademark, registered or unregistered, from one owner to another. Trademarks in Canada are federal, and the Trademarks Act allows a trademark to be transferred with or without the goodwill of the business. The new owner should ask CIPO to record the transfer on the register.

An assignment of trade secrets is the transfer, usually in a business sale or technology deal, of the right to use and protect confidential commercial information such as formulas, processes or methods. Because trade secrets are not registered and Canadian law does not generally treat information as property, the transfer works through contract and continued confidentiality.

An assignment of website content is the transfer of rights in the text, images, video, code and design of a website from the person who created or owns them to another party. Most website content is protected by copyright, so a valid transfer of ownership requires a written assignment signed by the copyright owner, usually with a waiver of moral rights.

Bankruptcy is a federal legal process under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in which an insolvent person or company's property passes to a licensed insolvency trustee, who sells it and distributes the proceeds to creditors by statutory priority. Restructuring alternatives include proposals under the same Act and, for debtors owing more than $5 million, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act.

Blockchain technology is a distributed ledger that records transactions in linked, cryptographically secured blocks shared across many computers, making past entries very difficult to alter. In British Columbia, businesses using blockchain must consider securities law for token offerings, federal anti-money laundering registration for virtual currency dealing, and contract and privacy law for smart contracts and on-chain data.

A boundary dispute is a disagreement between neighbouring owners about where the legal line between their parcels lies or whether a structure encroaches. In British Columbia, boundaries are fixed by registered plans and a BC land surveyor's evidence, adverse possession cannot shift them, and the court can resolve encroachments under section 36 of the Property Law Act.

A breach of contract occurs when a party fails, without lawful excuse, to perform a promise in a binding contract. In BC, the innocent party may claim damages and, in some cases, specific performance or an injunction, but must generally start a lawsuit within two years after discovering the claim under the Limitation Act.

A builders lien is a claim registered against title to land under the Builders Lien Act, by an unpaid contractor, subcontractor, worker or supplier of work or materials to an improvement. It generally must be filed within 45 days after completion, abandonment or termination, and enforced by suing and registering a certificate of pending litigation within one year.

Building codes are technical standards for the design and construction of buildings, covering structure, fire safety, health, accessibility and energy efficiency. In British Columbia, the BC Building Code is a regulation under the Building Act and applies across the province except in the City of Vancouver, which has its own Vancouver Building By-law.

Building inspections has two meanings. It can mean inspections by local government building officials to confirm that permitted construction work complies with the building code and bylaws. It can also mean a pre-purchase or property condition inspection arranged by a buyer or tenant to assess a building's condition. The second is a private choice, not a legal requirement.

A building permit is a local government's written authorization to construct, alter or demolish a building, issued after plans are checked against the building code and local bylaws. In British Columbia, municipalities issue permits under bylaws made under the Community Charter or Local Government Act, and Vancouver under the Vancouver Charter. Unpermitted work risks stop work orders and fines.

Building regulations are the legal rules that set minimum standards for the design, construction, alteration and occupancy of buildings, covering matters such as structural safety, fire protection, health, accessibility and energy efficiency. In BC they are found mainly in the BC Building Code and in local government building bylaws, which control permits and inspections.

Business ethics refers to the moral principles and standards that guide how a business and its people behave, such as honesty, fairness and responsibility to others. It is a business and management concept rather than a legal term. Some ethical expectations are reinforced by law, but most ethical standards are voluntary or set by internal policies.

Business formation is the process of choosing and setting up the legal structure of a new business in British Columbia: a sole proprietorship, a general or limited partnership under the Partnership Act, or a company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act. The choice determines the owners' personal liability, tax treatment, registration requirements and how ownership can be shared or sold.

Business immigration covers the routes by which foreign entrepreneurs can work in or immigrate to Canada to start, buy or run a business. In BC the main permanent residence route is the BC Provincial Nominee Program entrepreneur streams, requiring personal investment and active management. Federal options are now mainly work permits, as the Start-up Visa closed in 2025.

A business interruption claim is a claim under an insurance policy for income lost and extra expenses incurred when a business's operations are interrupted, usually by physical damage to its premises or property from an insured peril such as fire or flood. Whether a loss is covered depends on the policy wording, including the insured perils, waiting period and indemnity period.

Business interruption coverage is insurance that replaces lost income and pays certain extra expenses when a business cannot operate normally because of an insured event, usually physical damage to its premises or property. It is normally added to a commercial property policy and is limited by the policy's insured perils, waiting period, coverage limits and indemnity period.

Business interruption damages are the financial losses a business suffers when its operations are disrupted, mainly lost profits and extra expenses. They can be recovered only in two ways: under the business's own insurance policy, or from another party who is legally responsible for the interruption through a claim in contract or tort.

Business interruption insurance is commercial property coverage that replaces lost profits and pays continuing expenses while a business cannot operate because of an insured peril, usually physical loss of or damage to its premises. In British Columbia the policy wording governs, read with the Insurance Act, and many commercial leases require tenants to carry it.

Business interruption losses are the lost income and additional operating costs a business incurs while its operations are disrupted by an event such as a fire, flood, equipment failure or cyberattack. They are recovered, if at all, under the business's own insurance policy or by a civil claim against a party legally responsible for causing the interruption.

A business interruption policy is the insurance contract, or endorsement to a commercial property policy, that sets out when and how an insurer pays lost income and continuing expenses after a covered loss. Its key terms are the insured peril, the indemnity period, the waiting period, the limit, coinsurance and exclusions, read under British Columbia's Insurance Act.

Business interruption risk is the risk that a business's operations will be disrupted, causing lost revenue and extra costs. It can arise from property damage, supply chain failures, cyberattacks, utility outages or other events. It is a risk management concept; businesses address it through insurance, contracts, contingency planning and backup arrangements.

A business licence is a municipal permit allowing a business to operate within a city or district in British Columbia. Municipalities set licensing rules by bylaw under the Community Charter or, in Vancouver, the Vancouver Charter. There is no general provincial business licence, although regulated activities such as selling liquor need separate provincial licences.

Business litigation is the resolution of commercial disputes through the courts, such as contract claims, shareholder disputes, debt collection and claims involving intellectual property or business torts. In BC, larger claims are heard in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and smaller claims in the Provincial Court or the Civil Resolution Tribunal.