Page History

...

CIPO has modernized the way in which the MOPOP is accessible and maintained by the office.  The new solution can be viewed at the following URL; https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00720.html

...

Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes

Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.

...

CIPO Website: A Guide to Patents
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr03652.html?Open&wt_src=cipo-patent-main&wt_cxt=apply#preparingPatentApplication

CIPO Website: Tutorial - Your Patent Application:
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr01398.html

...

CIPO classifies national and international applications according to the IPC.  Currently, CIPO’s preclassification of national and international applications is based on a preliminary classification which is limited to section, class and subclass for the purpose of assigning the file to the appropriate classification examiner's queue.  National files are reclassified following the entry into force of a new version of the IPC.  CIPO is working with the EPO in implementing the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) for international application.

...

The Office translates the titles into French or English depending on the language of the application.  Some translations are retrieved from the PCT import process which uses an XML file received from WIPO.  The Office provides abstracts in both French and English on patents in Good Standing.  A contracted third party currently provides the translation services to CIPO, these are then quality-checked internally.  The office is looking into new technologies in an effort to make the translation process more efficient.

...

CIPO also publishes the Canadian Patent Office Record (CPOR) on a weekly basis.

https://www.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpor/eng/home.html

...

CIPO's internal office TechSource system includes bibliographic data (from 1869-present), text (abstract, claim and description of laid open patent documents from late 1978-present) and images of patent documents (from 1869-present).  All these documents are available stored on hard disk technology.

Externally, examiners have access to many publicly available and subscription-based databases such as the following list of databases;

Information products and patent document collections (coverage, medium, etc.) available to external users, conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)

...

CIPO provides Patent/application information and important dates such as filing and issue dates on its website.  Statuses per say are not currently available on the website. https://www.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/introduction.html

...

Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements

Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office

Patents main IT systems are hosted on a mainframe solution.  This is a common government-wide infrastructure that is maintained by the government department, Shared Services Canada.

Telework support for patent activities are provided using a laptop VPN solution through which staff remotely connect to the office's network.  A significant amount of Patent employees work remotely at least one day a week with some working full time remotely.

...

CIPO's internal office TechSource system includes bibliographic data (from 1869-present), text (abstract, claim and description of laid open patent documents from 1978-present) and images of patent documents (from 1869-present).  All these documents are available stored on hard disk technology.  Data for applications open to public inspection and granted patents is extracted from the TechSource database and published onto CIPO's searchable online Canadian Patent Database (CPD) and made available for bulk data downloads.

...

Patent Branch examiners continue to populate a database of ‘search records’ for every office action.  The tools developed allow the examiners to create, update, store and retrieve information on the search activities. This information includes data on family members, applicant submissions, databases and search queries used.  The database is populated via an interface built into MS Excel.  The examiner can add new tabs to each record with subsequent office actions, eventually building a complete history of the search over the prosecution life of the application.  The files are stored in the database, but are also exported into the Notations field of the Line of Business (LOB) application within TechSource (and written to a MS Word document and added as an annex to any examiner’s report).  A similar system exists for International applications.  The search record is a benefit to internal and external stakeholders and serves as a foundational tool for quality assessment.

While not fully integrated with ePCT applicants can create an international application using ePCT.  ePCT will provide the applicant with a file that can be uploaded at CIPOs website, the applicant will also have the option to pay their application fees at CIPOs website.

...

The CIPO Resource Centre provides non-patent literature research and reference services.  It enables employees to access world-class external information sources via its many e-resources.  The centre continues to enhance its virtual collection and provide training to ensure employees effectively access the electronic information sources from their desktops.  The centre serves as the central point for information procurement within CIPO.  Its services also include webinars, specialized wikis and e-books.

The CIPO Client Service Centre and the CIPO web site provide information and a guide to patents to assist users.  CIPO also has an outreach program.

...

CIPO Website: A Guide to Patents

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr03652.html?Open&wt_src=cipo-patent-main&wt_cxt=apply#preparingPatentApplication

CIPO Website: Tutorial - Your Patent Application:

...

CIPO receives and prosecutes patents in either official language (French or English).  The Office translates all of the patent titles and abstracts so that they are available in both official languages (English and French). The Office does not translate the other sections of a patent (claims, description, drawings, Sequence Listings).

...

The Industry Training Visit (ITV) program: Examiners can update their knowledge in the relevant field by visiting leading-edge companies that are active in research and development within Canada.  The companies voluntarily host visits, and their inventors, scientists, engineers and other experts share the knowledge related to their research and development to the examiners.  Visits took place in Toronto in 2018 and Montreal in 2019.

...

USPTO seminars by WEBEX: Examiners attend technical seminars organized by the USPTO for their examiners via live streamed WEBEX.  In exchange, CIPO also invites USPTO examiners to attend their webinars via WEBEX.

Webinars by third parties: Examiners attend webinars organized by professional organizations.  These webinars are technically relevant, from reputable organizations and typically free of charge.

...

CIPO recently launched a new IP Academy: A collection of online learning resources, seminars and training about intellectual property (IP), such as patents, trademarks, industrial designs and copyright.

   https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04234.html

...

CIPO has PPH agreements with several countries and retrieves files from their respective public dossier access systems, where available.  Our partner offices can now retrieve most Canadian files directly from the Canadian Patents Database while the rest must be obtained from the applicant.

...

The Canadian Patent Office participates in the Vancouver Group Searching Working Group (VG-SWG) launched in early 2018.  The purpose of the VG-SWG is to compare and contrast all elements of patent searching (i.e. practice, tools, training, quality review), develop best practices and enhance the quality of searching for all offices. 

In addition to the initiative completed last year (Search Tools and Databases), the VGSWG has since completed its second initiative (Search Quality Review).  We are currently finalizing a third initiative (Search Training). This group also developed a hands-on benchmarking exercise (VG Search collaboration workshop), where examiners in the VG Offices (VGO) independently search an application and then convene to discuss and compare strategies and results.

A third workshop is expected to be run in the second-half of 2020.  Examiners welcomed the opportunity to have a “live” discussion on search strategy with their VGO colleagues.

...