Trust & IP Protection
Integrity, Loyalty, and Honesty are system properties we test every day. Here is how we prove them — in plain language, with evidence.
Verifiable Privacy
Zero telemetry by design. Everything provable offline.
Clear IP Ownership
You own what we build. No hidden liens.
Gov-Ready Posture
Sovereign data, sovereign infrastructure, Canadian law.
1. What Intellectual Property Means for Your Business
Your IP is any creation of the mind that has commercial value. For typical elect-rix clients, this falls into five buckets:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Copyright | Code, documentation, written content, designs |
| Trademark | Brand names, logos, slogans, product names |
| Patent | Novel processes, algorithms, inventions |
| Industrial Design | UI/UX layouts, hardware casing, visual shape |
| Trade Secret | Client lists, pricing, roadmaps, methodologies |
If you hire a vendor to build it, who owns it? The default answer in Canada is: it depends on the contract. That is why vendor selection is an IP decision, not just a technical one.
2. Canadian IP Law: What Actually Protects You
Canada provides legal protections across all five categories, but the strength of protection varies significantly.
Copyright — Strong
- Automatic upon creation (registration recommended but not required for basic rights).
- Civil remedies: damages, injunctions, destruction of infringing copies.
- Border enforcement: CBSA can detain suspected infringing goods.
Trademarks — Strong (if registered)
- Registration with CIPO required for strongest enforcement.
- Counterfeiting is a criminal offense.
- CBSA can detain counterfeit goods at the border.
Patents — Strong but expensive
- Must be applied for and granted by CIPO. No automatic patent.
- Enforcement is civil only (court litigation). No criminal penalties for patent infringement alone.
Industrial Designs — Moderate
- Requires registration for full protection.
- Enforcement is civil (injunctions, damages).
Trade Secrets — Weak in Canada
- Canada is the only G7 country without a federal Trade Secrets Act.
- Protection relies on: common law (breach of confidence), your contracts (NDAs), your internal security.
- If a vendor steals your client list and there is no strong contract, recovery is difficult and expensive.
3. Red Flags in Vendor Contracts
When reviewing a vendor agreement, verify the following. A "No" to any is a stop sign:
| Checkpoint | elect-rix Position |
|---|---|
| Does the contract specify YOU own the deliverables? | Yes — always, unless otherwise negotiated |
| Is there a clear confidentiality / NDA clause? | Yes — in writing, binding on all staff |
| Does the vendor reserve "background IP" rights? | Declared upfront; never hidden |
| Are subcontractors bound by the same rules? | Yes — chain-of-trust enforced |
| Data destruction / return upon termination? | Yes — written instruction executed |
| Access controls and version control in place? | Yes — documented and auditable |
4. How elect-rix Protects Client IP
Our operational architecture is designed around one principle: your IP should never be easier to steal than it is to build.
1. Contractual Architecture
- Default: Client owns all deliverables. elect-rix retains no hidden lien.
- Background IP (pre-existing tools) declared in writing before work begins.
- NDA / confidentiality binding on principals and any subcontractor.
2. Access Control
- Need-to-know basis. Client repositories and environments isolated.
- No shared credentials. Two-factor authentication enforced.
- Work product developed in client-controlled environments wherever possible.
3. Documentation & Provenance
- Version control (Git) with signed commits.
- Creation dates immutably logged.
- No shadow copies outside the agreed repository.
4. Subcontractor Governance
- No undisclosed outsourcing. Any subcontractor named, bound, and supervised.
- Equivalent confidentiality enforced down the chain.
5. Termination Hygiene
- Upon contract end: all client data returned or destroyed per written instruction.
- No retained copies in personal drives, email, or unsecured storage.
5. How elect-rix Protects Its Own IP
We apply the same standards to ourselves that we recommend to clients:
| Asset | Protection Measure |
|---|---|
| elect-rix Brand | Trade name registered provincially (NB); federal trademark planned |
| Proprietary Code | Copyright automatic upon creation (Canadian law); private repositories, signed commits |
| Client Engagements | NDA + access control enforced per engagement; need-to-know access, no shared credentials |
| Build Infrastructure | Self-hosted, air-gapped capable; AI-assisted development, human-reviewed output |
6. Government Contract Readiness
Public-sector procurement demands more than a good pitch. It demands proof of security, sovereignty, and accountability. elect-rix is built for this.
🇨🇦 Sovereign Data, Sovereign Infrastructure
- All client data resides in Canada by default. No foreign cloud dependency.
- Workstations are physically located in New Brunswick. No cross-border data processing without explicit consent.
- When cloud is necessary, Canadian-hosted or client-controlled instances only.
- Aligned with PSPC / Shared Services Canada data-residency expectations for Protected workloads.
🔐 Supply Chain Integrity & Verifiable Builds
- Deterministic builds: Astro + Bun + Tailwind produce identical output from the same source.
- All dependencies pinned in lockfiles (bun.lock, package-lock). No floating versions.
- Git history is the audit trail. Every deployment maps 1:1 to a commit hash.
- Relevant to CCCS Supply Chain Guidance and emerging software-bill-of-materials (SBOM) requirements.
🧑💼 Personnel Accountability
- Named responsible party: one Canadian principal with full accountability. No shell entities, no hidden subcontractors.
- Subcontractors (if any) are named, bound by equivalent confidentiality, and supervised.
- Criminal background check and reliability status available upon request for sensitive engagements.
📋 Compliance Alignment
- PIPEDA / FOIPOP: Privacy-by-design. Data minimization. No telemetry.
- Protected A / B readiness: Controlled environments, access logging, no unauthorized external comms.
- Accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA targeted for all deliverables as standard practice.
- Open Standards: Where possible, outputs use open formats (Markdown, JSON, HTML, SVG) to prevent vendor lock-in.
⚖️ Canadian Law & Jurisdiction
- All contracts governed by New Brunswick / Canadian law.
- Dispute resolution in Canadian venue. No offshore arbitration clauses.
- Errors & omissions / cyber liability coverage can be tailored to contract requirements.
7. Your Action Checklist
Use this checklist with any vendor, including elect-rix:
- ☐ Ownership: Does the contract state you own the deliverables?
- ☐ License Back: If vendor retains rights, is the scope clear?
- ☐ Confidentiality: Written NDA or confidentiality clause?
- ☐ Subcontractors: Named and bound?
- ☐ Termination: Data return / destruction specified?
- ☐ Jurisdiction: Dispute resolution in Canadian venue?
- ☐ Insurance: E&O / cyber liability coverage?
- ☐ Gov Readiness: Data residency, chain-of-trust, accessibility?
8. What to Do If You Suspect IP Theft
Step 1 — Preserve Evidence
Screenshot, archive, log timestamps. Do NOT confront the suspect in a way that tips them off.
Step 2 — Document the Chain of Custody
List every person who had access. Map what was taken and when.
Step 3 — Notify Your Legal Counsel
Civil remedies (injunction, damages) require prompt action. Criminal complaints go to RCMP / CBSA.
Step 4 — Contact CBSA (for counterfeit goods at border)
File a Request for Assistance (RFA) — no fee. CBSA can detain shipments for 5–10 days while you seek a court order.
Step 5 — Secure Your Remaining Assets
Rotate credentials, revoke access, audit repositories.
Glossary
Disclaimer
This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. elect-rix.tech is a technology consultancy, not a law firm. For specific legal matters, consult a qualified Canadian intellectual property lawyer. Laws and regulations change; this advisory reflects the state of Canadian IP law as of May 2026.
Questions?
For questions about this advisory, our IP practices, or government contract readiness:
contact@elect-rix.techelect-rix.tech — Integrity. Loyalty. Honesty. — Tested.