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Client Service Standards Mid-year Report

The following highlights CIPO's performance against its Client Service Standards for 2008-09. Please note that in areas where we underperformed by 10% or exceeded the expected results, explanatory notes have been included.

Reports

Patent Branch

Services Client Service Standards Mid-Year Results Explanatory Notes
Issue filing certificate for patent applications meeting filing requirements Within four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of application 3.8 weeks Recent operational changes have improved communication between clients and the Patent Office, decreasing processing delays.
Issue confirmation of national entry for Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications meeting entry requirements Within eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of the application 13.8 weeks In April 2008, the Turn Around Time (TAT) was 11 weeks due to hiring difficulties. Further delays were encountered during the transition phase of the new PCT-National process (whereby all PCT applications are processed by the PCT section, instead of by two different sections as was done previously).

With the new process in place, communication between clients and the Patent Office will improve and delays in processing new applications will decrease. Service levels are expected to reach desired standards in February 2009.
Issue an ownership registration certificate Within six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of documentation 8 weeks Staff shortages and delays in the acquisition of equipment have created backlogs in the scanning area, which directly impacted this process.

Recently, two scanners and eight employees were added to Operations; we will reach desired service standards by the end of February 2009.

Provide a first substantive examination (80% of applications with a request for examination will be waiting for a first substantive examination action, including all known objections to patentability) 80% of appl. in less than:
  • 18 months for Mechanical
  • 30 months for Electrical
  • 21 months for General Chemistry
  • 21 months for Organic Chemistry
  • 30 months for Biotech
 (As of end of Sept.)
  • 20 months
  • 33 months
  • 25 months
  • 24 months
  • 36 months
Mechanical, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry are expected to meet performance standards by the end of the fiscal year.

Electrical and Biotech will not meet published Client Service Standards for the year due to higher than expected loss of employees, and lower than desired hiring rates last year.

By year end, 80% of Electrical and Biotech applications are expected to be waiting less than 32 months for a first substantive examination. Hiring continues to be a top priority of the Patent Branch

Patent Appeal Board

Services Client Service Standards Mid-Year Results Explanatory Notes
Patents

Contact applicant to arrange hearing date

Within two (2) months Within two (2) months  
Industrial Designs

Contact applicant to arrange hearing date

Within two (2) months Within two (2) months  

Trade-marks Branch

Services Client Service Standards Mid-Year Results Explanatory Notes
Acknowledge correctly filed new applications Within seven (7) working days of filing date 4.1 days The hiring and training of additional resources during the year has contributed to the successful result.
Approve acceptable applications or issue first examination reports Within six and half (6.5) months 7.5 months Sustained efforts in hiring and training new groups of TM examiners will help achieve the expected TAT by 2009.
Respond to client correspondence received subsequent to a first action Within four (4) months of receiving correspondence 4 months  

Trade-marks Opposition Board

Services Client Service Standards Mid-Year Results Explanatory Notes
Oral hearing date:
a) Opposition Within 14 months of receipt of request (no postponements) 14 months  
b) Section 45 Within 18 months of receipt of request 14 months  
Decisions issued:
a) Non-hearing Opposition Within 11 months of file being ready for decision 9 months  
b) Non-hearing Section 45 Within 13 months of file being ready for decision 10 months  

Copyright Office

Services Client Service Standards Mid-Year Results Explanatory Notes
Register a copyright and issue a certificate:
a) For applications received by mail Within seven (7) working days from receipt of application and fees 6.3 days  
b) For applications filed electronically Within five (5) working days from receipt of application and fees 1.7 days  
Register a grant of interest and issue a certificate for a copyright Within 12 working days from receipt of application and fees 11.4 days  

Industrial Design Division

Services Client Service Standards Mid-Year Results Explanatory Notes
Issue filing certificate or issue report indicating industrial design application is incomplete Within four (4) weeks of receipt of application 2 weeks  
Examine application to assess the registrability of the design: allow the design or issue first examiner's report Within 9.8 months of the receipt of application 7.8 months  

Client Service Centre (Information Branch)

Requests are processed within standards 90 percent of the time

Services Client Service Standards Mid-Year Results Explanatory Notes
Respond to telephone enquiries or voice mail Immediately upon receipt or call will be returned within 24 hours 98.3%  
Respond to general correspondence, email and fax requests Within 48 hours upon receipt by the Client Service Centre 98.3%  
Provide access to an information officer (on site) Within 10 minutes of their request 98.3%  
Send intellectual property publications Publications will be mailed within 48 hours 98.3%  

Reproduction and Sales Section (Information Branch)

Requests are processed within standards 90 percent of the time

Services Client Service Standards Mid-Year Results Explanatory Notes
Send photocopies of patent, trade-mark and copyright documents in paper or electronic format Within 72 hours from receipt of request and with proof of payment 92.0%  
Send certified copies of patent, trade-mark and copyright documents in paper form Within 72 hours from receipt of request and with proof of payment 92.0%  
Date Modified: 2009-11-27

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