MOPOP Revision History

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MOPOP Updates


The Manual of Patent Office Practice (MOPOP) is maintained to ensure that it reflects the latest developments in the Canadian patent laws and practices.

Recent reviews

List of all notable changes since June 2016
Version Changes Month published
January 2024 update to October 2019 edition

The MOPOP has been revised to provide guidance on the definition of small entity in alignment with the amended Patent Rules and to clarify the office position with regards to maintenance fees that are paid in advance.

Track changes for MOPOP as revised January 2024

January 2024
June 2023 update to October 2019 edition

The MOPOP has been revised to take into consideration various housekeeping amendments to the Patent Rules that came into force on .

Track changes for MOPOP as revised June 2023

June 2023
October 2022 update to October 2019 edition

The MOPOP has been revised to provide guidance on new mechanisms to streamline examination, new safeguards for applicants and patentees, and housekeeping and miscellaneous amendments in alignment with the amended Patent Rules.

Track changes for MOPOP as revised October 2022

October 2022
July 2022 update to February 2022 edition

The MOPOP has been revised to ensure compliance with the new PCT sequence listing requirements of World Intellectual Property Organization Standard 26 (WIPO ST.26).

Track changes for MOPOP as revised July 2022
 
July 2022
February 2022 update to October 2019 edition

The MOPOP has been revised to reflect the fact that:

  • CIPO in its role as a Receiving Office (RO), International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examination Authority (IPEA) offers the option of receiving electronic communications via Canada Post epost Connect™ in lieu of paper mail; and
  • As of February 1, 2022, CIPO became a depositing Office for WIPO's Digital Access Service (DAS) for patent documents.
Track changes for MOPOP as revised February 2022
 
February 2022
November 2021 update to October 2019 edition

The MOPOP has been revised to reflect the fact that:

  • PCT Safe is no longer supported by CIPO as an option for preparing Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) international applications; and
  • Communications related to PCT international applications may now be sent electronically using the secure online General correspondence form.
November 2021
August 2021 update to June 2021 edition The MOPOP has been revised to reflect the fact that special characters will appear on the cover pages but not on other documents produced by the Office. August 2021
June 2021 update to October 2019 edition The MOPOP has been revised to reflect the amended Patent Act and Patent Rules. The Act and Rules have been amended to account for the coming-into-force of the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents. June 2021
December 2020 update to September 2020 edition

Changes that clarify and update the practice in respect of the withdrawal of examiner's reports and in relation to missing or delayed receipt of examiner's reports.

December 2020
September 2020 update to October 2019 edition

Clarifications to office practices that were introduced, or otherwise changed, as a result of Patent Law Treaty implementation; as well as clarifications to administrative procedures that were introduced in the October 2019 MOPOP update.

September 2020

The MOPOP has been revised to reflect the amended Patent Act and the new Patent Rules following the implementation of the PLT and to introduce more information on administrative procedures at the Patent Office.

April 2018 update to 1998 edition

Changes to chapters 1-3, 13, 17 and 23 to improve clarity and to include additional information relating to: the recent Patent Notice on Correspondence Procedures, the Patent Examination Interview Service, the presentation of sequence listings, and examination of multiple co-pending applications for reissue for the same patent.

April 2018
November 2017 update to 1998 edition

New chapter 12 and new sections in chapter 17 concerning medical diagnostic methods and kits and packages

November 2017
September 2017 update to 1998 edition

Removal of all references to "representative" to reflect a recent change to the Patent Act in which section 29 was repealed. Affects several sections in various chapters.

September 2017
April 2017 update to 1998 edition

Changes to a few office procedures as well as changes to formatting in several sections of various chapters

April 2017
January 2017 update to 1998 edition

Changes to sections 17.07 and 17.08 to reflect antibody practice

January 2017
June 2016 update to 1998 edition

Changes to formatting and terminology as well as changes to improve clarity in several sections of several chapters

June 2016

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ic.dbpratiques-pbpractice.ic@canada.ca
Canadian Intellectual Property Office
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