Canadian Intellectual Property Office

What is Intellectual Property (IP)?

Legal rights that result from intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary and artistic fields.

Link to intellectual property main page
Read more

What is an industrial design?

An industrial design is the visual features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament—or any combination of these features—applied to a finished article made by hand, tool or machine.

Link to industrial designs main page
Apply now to register your industrial design

What is an ICT?

ICTs (integrated circuit topographies) refer to the three-dimensional configurations of electronic integrated circuit products or layout designs.

Link to integrated circuit topographies main page
Apply now to register your ICT

What is copyright?

In the simplest terms, "copyright" means "the right to copy." In general, only the copyright owner, often the creator of the work, is allowed to produce or reproduce the work or to permit anyone else to do so.

Link to copyright main page
Apply now to register your copyright

What is a patent?

A patent is a right, granted by government, to exclude others from making, using, or selling your invention in Canada.

Link to patents main page
Apply now for a patent

What is a trade-mark?

A trade-mark is a word (or words), a design, or a combination of these, used to identify the goods or services of one person or organization.

Link to trade-mark main page
Apply now to register your trade-mark