Annual Technical Report on Trademark Information Activities in 2022 submitted by Canadian Intellectual Property Office

I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of trademark information activities and expected time frames for their realization

Canada continues to expand their online services to allow clients to process trademark applications/registrations electronically.  This expansion was considered particularly important in 2021 given the restrictions caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic which meant both CIPO staff and clients were not always in their physical offices.  By expanding the online services available to the clients this allowed for more remote working arrangements while at the same time improving speed to receipt of these requests.

New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks

Canada implemented a rebranding of it’s online services and added some new online transaction types along with enhancements to existing services by adding full automation to some of its online service offerings.

• The "Trademark E-Filing" online service has been renamed to "Trademark E-Services".
• The following correspondence types have been removed from the online General Correspondence service:
  1. Appointment of agent or revocation of agent;
  2. Change of name or address;
  3. Transfer of ownership;
  4. License agreement; and
  5. Security agreement.
• A link to the Trademark E-Registration and E-Renewal online service can be accessed from within the Trademark E-Services.
• New transaction types have been introduced online under the section of "Ownership & Representation", they can apply them to one or multiple files. The new request types will include:
  1. Change of name/address - the following sub-types apply:
     1. Change of name
     2. Change of address
     3. Change of name and address
  2. Transfer of ownership
  3. Security agreement – the following sub-types apply:
     1. Add
     2. Remove
     3. Amend
  4. License agreement – the following sub-types apply:
     1. Add
     2. Remove
     3. Amend
  5. Appointment of agent
  6. Revocation of agent
  7. Change of agent's "Attention to"

The Office initiated the creation and sending of Pre-Assessment letters to inform applicants if the specific statements of goods/services may be acceptable and allow them to update them based on the CIPO Goods and Services Manual prior to examination.

Main areas of trademark information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year

N/A

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

Trademark Filings Domestic

Madrid Designations (based on Notification of Designation Date)

Madrid Office of Origin Filings

Trademark Registrations

Domestic

Designations Registered in Canada

II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs 

File a new or amended trademark or certification mark application - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Availability of the application dossier in electronic form

Currently trademark documents are in a combination of paper format and electronic format.  CIPO has undertaken a project to create an application dossier containing all documents related to the trademark.  This electronic dossier will be available on the CIPO website in 2023.

Matters concerning classifying

1. Classification and reclassification activities; classification systems used, e.g., International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification), International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification), other classification Since June 17^th 2019, CIPO requires the use of Nice Classification for goods/services.  CIPO applies the Vienna Classifications on all figurative elements of marks.

1. Use of electronic classification systems and pre-defined terms of the classification applied

A Goods and Services Manual is available on CIPO’s website. This searchable database is designed to assist applicants in compiling the statements of goods or services required to file a Canadian trademark application. This representative listing of terms has been classified according to the latest version of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification). All entries are pre-approved by CIPO and, if selected, will be accepted by the Office without the need for further specification.

Matters concerning processing of different types of non-traditional marks (e.g., three-dimensional, motion, hologram, color mark, etc.)

Amendments to the Trademarks Act that came into force on June 17, 2019, allow for non-traditional trademarks for example and not limited to scent, texture, holograms, movement trademarks, etc.

III. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

Main types of publications in the field of trademark information, outline of the content and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)

Trademarks Journal (Trademarks Journal (ic.gc.ca)): Our weekly Trademarks Journal contains marks for applications filed, which are advertised following approvals. These announcements include:

• the date of the application;
• the file number of the application/registration;
• the name and address of the owner;
• a reproduction of the trademark or necessary information for public inspection;
• a statement of goods and/or services;
• any priority claims.

Practice Notices (Trademark practice notices - Canadian Intellectual Property Office): Practice notices pertaining to Office Practices and Policies are available on the Trademarks home page of the CIPO website under Practice Notices.

Trademark News email subscription service: Clients can register to our email subscription service to stay in touch with the latest trademarks developments at CIPO. These emails will include:

• updates to the Goods and Services Manual;
• new consultations on trademarks;
• practice notices on trademarks; and
• "What's New" announcements on trademarks posted on the CIPO website..

Twitter: CIPO's Twitter presence is intended to enhance two-way communication between CIPO and its customers as laid out in the Business Strategy.

Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online, URL), etc.

The Trademarks Journal is available in electronic form (Trademarks Journal (ic.gc.ca)) on the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) web site (Home - Canadian Intellectual Property Office). The Journal is produced on a weekly basis and is available in PDF format and can be downloaded (free of charge), viewed and printed with Adobe Reader. The electronic form of the Journal is the official version. All Trademarks Journals from January 2000 onwards are available online.

Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases

Trademarks Examination Manual (TEM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Madrid Examination and Procedures Manual (MEPM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

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

Trademarks Examination Manual (TEM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Madrid Examination and Procedures Manual (MEPM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Search - Canadian Trademarks Database - Intellectual property and copyright - Canadian Intellectual Property Office - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Goods and Services Manual - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

List of Geographical Indications

Trademark Opposition Board Decisions Home - Canadian Intellectual Property Office (opic-cipo.gc.ca)

Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)

N/A

Other sources

Trademarks Act (justice.gc.ca)

Trademarks Regulations (justice.gc.ca)

Trademarks - Canadian Intellectual Property Office

IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

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

The Trademarks Branch utilizes an end-to-end trademark processing system, INTREPID II, and the system became fully operational in November 1996. INTREPID II operates in a client/server environment. All trademark employees have access to the system via an internal, Local Area Network (LAN). The system contains bibliographic trademark data dating from the beginning of Canada's trademark management system in 1864, including pending and registered trademarks, trademark designs, outgoing correspondence and trademark notices. INTREPID II is used within the office to manage the overall trademark process, including examination, opposition, assignments and renewals, and is able to make process decisions automatically. The system supports such specific office processes as preparing correspondence, updating information, preparing and transmitting notices electronically.

In July 1999, an electronic trademark application filing component was added to allow a client to file their trademark application electronically over the Internet. The e-services are continuously expanding: Trademark Renewals, the payment of the Registration Fee, and the renewal can be performed electronically over CIPO’s online services.

On June 17, 2019, CIPO improved the trademarks online services to comply with the new modernized legislative framework. Furthermore, the Canadian Trademarks Databases has also been revamped with a partial new look and feel as well as new search features and new data elements, all driven from a series of engagement sessions with key Canadian stakeholders.

For all client front-ends, the information is checked for completeness, where the transaction is transferred automatically into the INTREPID II system following by an electronic acknowledgement (in PDF) via email to the client. CIPO continued to improve their electronic interactions by releasing two systems automations pertaining to the formalities of the trademark application as well as the renewal of the registered trademark. Both transactions no longer require user interventions, while the office response is issued automatically via email.

On June 17, 2019, CIPO launched their new Madrid Console, which assists CIPO to receive, examine and process international trademarks for which Canada has been designated. The console works as a workflow engine where the user can either notify a task by validating the data in INTREPID II system or perform a task with respect to a Protocol Application/Registration of a Madrid designation. The console is also designed to process the monthly financial transaction from WIPO.  For Canadians wishing to register their trademarks in any of the contracting parties of the Madrid Protocol by filing an application for international registration (AIR), CIPO adopted WIPO’S Madrid e-Filing (Mef) to submit an AIR through a basic application or registration.

Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office

The INTREPID II system is a client/server system with the client component developed with Team Developer (Gupta SQL Windows 2005 v 4.0.0), and the UNIX (AIX) server using Oracle RDMS V11g database with plans to upgrade to V19. Windows file servers are used for electronic mail and for sharing common files during development. A NFS disk area on the main server is used to hold the design images. This allows client workstations to access the designs within the client interface, while storing all design images under the control of the main server.

SERVER

IBM AIX servers

Operating System AIX

935 GB HardDisk, 8GB RAM

Oracle RDMS V 11g

Oracle SQL*Net V 9

Microfocus server express 5.0

TCP/IP

Image Converter: Alchemy 1.13

Electronic Forms Generator: DocOrigin

CLIENT WORKSTATION

Over 290 workstations are connected to the server

Intel based (min 3.2 GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB disk)

SVGA monitors 19", 21" or 22" LCD  mostly dual monitors

MS-Windows as a Service (WaaS) v.22H2,  MS365,

Team Developer (Gupta SQL Windows 2005 v 4.0.0), TCP/IP SQL*Net 9.0 Samba NFS (Network File System)

Some workstations with Bar-code readers and/or scanners

PRINTERS

Xerox network printers

NETWORK

TCP/IP

1 gb between server and switches

100 mb between switches and workstation

Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources

CIPO's Trademarks Branch maintains a complete history of its trademark files in paper and/or electronic form, and information pertaining to all active marks from 1864 and inactive marks from 1979 to date in electronic form.

An initiative is underway to digitize all the trademark paper files. The scanned documents are transferred in a document management solution.

CIPO uses a Web-based search system from OnScope for trademark searches. As well, CIPO provides its trademark data to other commercial databases for external client use, through Cloud Services, in XML ST.96 format.

CIPO offers a search tool to query the database, namely Canadian Trademarks Database (Search - Canadian Trademarks Database - Intellectual property and copyright - Canadian Intellectual Property Office - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)which is updated on a weekly basis.

The trademark information is disseminated in WIPO ST.96 XML format.

Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file

All bibliographic data contained in trademark applications and registrations are maintained on the INTREPID II system. Since the treaty's accession, the Madrid Console serves as a workflow system to manage WIPO’s transactions on a weekly on a monthly basis. The console is interconnected to INTREPID II system.

The Canadian Trademarks database is available to the public on the Internet via the CIPO website. This version of the database is comprised of all active and many inactive marks that were either applied for or registered pursuant to the current Trademarks Act or former trademark legislation. The database also includes all trademarks that were cancelled, expunged, abandoned or refused after 1979, and some marks that were cancelled, expunged, abandoned or refused prior to 1979. Since the coming into force of June 17, 2019, the CTD also contains the International Registration.

Canada no longer maintains a manual search file. All trademark information is maintained within the INTREPID II database system and contains over a million marks (1,7029,184). This information is provided to various external search services.

Improved Bilingual Search Capability

We have added a feature to help clients to conduct searches in both English and French. This will help to ensure that their search query includes more terms, thereby resulting in an increased results list. This improvement is of interest to those who know their search criteria in one of Canada's official languages but not in the other.

Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)

The INTREPID II system is integrated with an improved version of the previous Trademarks Executive Information System (EIS). The EIS system permits detailed and comprehensive tracking and monitoring of trademark processes. The EIS system provides daily information on production volumes and turnaround times for trademark processes. The EIS system is available via the Intranet to allow broader access to reports within the Office.

The trademark search collection is managed in electronic form. The clients have access to the latest versions of the electronic records. A structured backup regime is in place to ensure preservation of the information.

V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

Office's library (if deals with trademark information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries

Public access to the trademark electronic processing system (INTREPID II) is available in the Client Service Centre.

The Canadian trademark database (Search - Canadian Trademarks Database - Intellectual property and copyright - Canadian Intellectual Property Office - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) is available to the public on the Internet via the CIPO web site.

The official index that is required to be kept under the supervision of the Registrar of Trademarks pursuant to subsection 28(1) of the Trademarks Act, is accessible in the Canadian Trademarks Database on the CIPO Internet site.

The following trademark reference material is also available to the public via the CIPO web site:

Trademarks Act (Trademarks Act (justice.gc.ca)) and Regulations (Trademarks Regulations (justice.gc.ca))

Examination Manual (Trademarks Examination Manual (TEM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office) / Madrid Examination Manual (Madrid Examination and Procedures Manual (MEPM) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office)

System Release Notes

Trademark Online Services - Release Notes (https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canadian-intellectual-property-office/en/trademarks/trademark-online-services-release-notes )

Goods/Services Manual (CIPO Goods and Services - Goods and Services Manual - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)

Practice Notices (Trademark practice notices - Canadian Intellectual Property Office)

Trademarks Guide (Trademarks guide - Canadian Intellectual Property Office)

Other reference materials

All Trademarks Journal (in PDF format) as of January 2000 E-Services (Trademarks Journal (ic.gc.ca))

Service Interruption Messages

Publications related to different business procedures and trademark information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.

N/A

Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.

N/A

Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.

N/A

VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

International exchange of trademark information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)

Trademarks Journal (ic.gc.ca)

CIPO is presently providing trademark data in XML ST.96 format, to a number of external database search providers and IPOs including weekly updates of Trademark data and design images

Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to trademark information

CIPO attends the WIPO Madrid Working Group on a yearly basis where all of the members of the Madrid System discuss various items.

CIPO participates in the Madrid eFiling International Working Group which is comprised of members from all of the IPOs that are currently using the WIPO developed Madrid eFiling system. The working group discusses areas for improvement and proposals for change to present to WIPO.

Assistance to developing countries

N/A