On January 8, 2026, Concordia University obtained a provisional injunction from the Superior Court of Québec in a dispute involving intellectual property, trade secrets and confidential information against a former employee and graduate student, Oleg Khalimonov, and his company, Polaris Aerospace Inc.
The dispute concerned technology and know-how developed through Space Concordia’s rocketry initiatives, including the Starsailor project. Concordia alleged that the defendants had misappropriated intellectual property, confidential information and technical know-how developed through years of university-funded research and development and subsequently represented that technology as belonging to Polaris.
The matter became urgent after Polaris submitted a proposal under the Department of National Defence’s Launch the North: Accelerating Canada’s Sovereign Access to Space initiative, a competitive program worth up to C$105 million over three years. Concordia alleged that the proposal improperly relied on intellectual property and confidential information derived from the Starsailor program.
The Superior Court granted extensive provisional injunctive relief, including orders requiring the withdrawal of Polaris’ government funding proposal, the cessation of representations claiming rights in Concordia’s intellectual property and the return of confidential materials. The Court found a strong prima facie case that the defendants had relied upon Concordia’s intellectual property and confidential information.
A Fasken team including Christian Leblanc and Patricia Hénault (Intellectual Property) and Charles Wagner (Employment) represented Concordia University in the matter.
Jurisdiction
- Québec
