The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) Annual Report for 2016–2017 was tabled in the House of Commons on February 2, 2018.
Last year, CIPO advanced its work to modernize Canada’s IP system, improve the quality of the IP rights it delivers, reduce processing times for clients, and increase access to Canadian IP data.
We have a much better understanding today of the needs of our customers, and of the innovation cycle in which they operate. We are offering new programs and products to help innovators and creators make the most of their inventions and creative endeavours.
Quotes
“Innovation changes the way people work, learn and live. It reshapes the business landscape, sometimes transforming how entire industries operate. At its root are intellectual property and the right of inventors, creators and innovators to own and allow others to use their “creations of the mind.” These are inventions, creative works and new designs and processes that have the potential to add immense value to businesses in Canada and around the world.”
- Johanne Bélisle, Commissioner of Patents, Registrar of Trade-marks and Chief Executive Officer
Quick Facts
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Over the last five years we have reduced our processing times to grant patent rights by almost 25%, helping innovators more quickly develop, monetize and commercialize their ideas.
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In 2016-17, CIPO reduced its average trademark turnaround time from filing to registration by 1 month to 26.5 months.
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We have improved processes to enable us to better understand how to use information technology to respond more rapidly to our customers’ IP business needs. For example, the Canadian Patents Database now allows users to access 148 years of patent descriptions and images, and to search, retrieve and study more than 2,300,000 patent documents.