CIPO News Updates
November 30, 2006
Client Service Standards for 2006-07
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office, as a client-centred organization, has recently updated
its client service standards to better reflect its 2006-07 service delivery commitments. These
commitments include providing clients with the highest quality service possible, and continuously
improving these services.
Specifically, a new service standard in trade-marks has been established for the turnaround time
in providing a response to correspondence from clients that is received subsequent to a first action.
In comparison with the year before, we have improved the turnaround times for the patent application
first substantive examination action and our Client Service Centre has an improved standard for
turnaround time responses to faxed general enquiries and for certified copies of patent and trade-mark
paper documents. Also, the service standards relating to copyright registration were modified
to "working days" from "calendar days" to be consistent with the other service standards.
For further details visit the CIPO website to view the entire Client Service Standards
for 2006-07.
Patent Examiner Training
The October 25 issue of News Updates carried an article (item 5) entitled Client Service Update — What
CIPO is doing to serve you better. In the last paragraph of section 3 of the story, reference was made
to initial examiner training, advanced examiner training and international search and preliminary
examination training. While this information was correct, it would be more complete to mention that,
in fact, new examiners undergo a rigorous and comprehensive two-year training program. In addition
to the formal training, each new examiner is directly supported by a senior patent examiner (mentor)
within his/her section throughout the training period.
Senior Appointments Announced Within the Patent Branch and the Patent Appeal Board
The Commissioner of Patents, David Tobin, has announced that, effective October 23, 2006, Michael
Gillen accepted an appointment as Division Chief of Biotechnology within the Patent Branch (PB).
Mr. Gillen rejoined the PB where he worked as a biotechnology patent examiner. Murray Wilson,
a Member of the Patent Appeal Board (PAB), will be replacing Michael Gillen as the interim Chairman
of the PAB.
The Board has expanded to six members to be able to provide a broader range of technical backgrounds
to meet the wide range of demands for knowledge and an increasing workload, and to allow for succession
planning.
Outreach Program in Action: Promoting an IP Culture to Top High School and College
Scientists in Canada
In accord with its Education Strategy, the Outreach Program participated as an exhibitor at the
Canada-Wide Science Fair last May 13 and 14 in Saguenay, Quebec.
The event was an opportunity for CIPO to connect with some 450 top high school and college scientists
from across the country and to assess their knowledge of IP. We were also able to test newly developed
promotional items and educational material for youth and to broaden our networking with youth
organizations.
David Boudreau, a CIPO Patent Examiner and former science fair participant, delivered a presentation
on patents and the role of patent examiners. Students commended the value of the information.
CIPO interviewed participants and, in collaboration with the Youth Science Foundation (YSF), produced
video clips of these interviews.
The video clips are now available on CIPO's website. Take a look at the innovative projects presented
by these promising young scientists who unveiled their winning ideas!
This YSF national event is held in a different province each year. In 2007, it will take place in
Truro, Nova Scotia, May 12 to 20. Ottawa will host the event from May 10 to 18, 2008.
To learn more about the YSF, visit their website.
Landmark Intellectual Property Event: Trading Ideas — the Future of IP in Asia Pacific
January 28-30, 2007
Hilton Sydney, Australia
The Australian Government will host a major landmark intellectual property symposium in January 2007.
Trading Ideas — the Future of IP in Asia Pacific will highlight emerging IP issues, stimulate
discussion, provoke debate and provide a forum to explore the future direction of intellectual property.
Trading Ideas:
- More than 30 expert speakers from the leading and emerging APEC economies and beyond will provide
insights into the changing regional IP environment and what it means for business and trade
in the region.
- Session topics include: IP Commercialisation Valuation and Licensing IP and Doing Business in APEC
economies, IP and Regional Trade Agreements, International IP Asset Management, Copyright and the
Challenges Posed by Digital Technologies.
- This event is a must for patent and trade-mark attorneys, product development managers,
commercialisation experts, IP lawyers, policy makers, IP regulators, venture capitalists and companies
looking to explore opportunities in the Asia Pacific region.
- The cost of registration is only AUD $800. You can also register online.
Visit from the Yunnan Intellectual Property Office
On Friday, October 27, 2006, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office welcomed a Chinese delegation
from the Yunnan Intellectual Property Office (YIPO). The delegation was interested in learning how the
Government of Canada promoted intellectual property protection and how patent agencies and the Canadian
legal system dealt with intellectual property infringement including, but not limited to, patents,
trademarks and copyright.
The Head of CIPO's delegation, Mr. Louis Vadeboncoeur, provided the participants with an overview of
CIPO's operations and Mr. Richard Leclerc recounted CIPO's Outreach Program. These presentations were
followed by briefings on: the Canadian legislation (Heritage Canada); enforcement and public
awareness (Royal Canadian Mounted Police); and international dimensions (Foreign Affairs Canada
and International Trade Canada).
The Head of the YIPO's delegation, Mr. Xu Huiran, Director-General, explained the duties and
responsibilities of the provincial IP offices and also gave an interesting description of the Yunnan
Province.
Bilateral Meeting Between the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Canadian Intellectual
Property Office
On October 26, 2006, a delegation from the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) visited the
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). The objectives of the visit were to exchange information
on issues related to automation; to propose electronic exchange of priority documents and patent data;
and to establish contact points for future cooperation between the two offices.
During the meeting, the delegation of six, headed by Mr. Kang Yeol Seo, Director of Information
Planning Team, made various presentations on KIPO's services, namely: KIPOnet; the online search service
for Korean patent information (KIPRIS); and the Korea-English Machine translation service (K-PION). An
update on the Trilateral Document Access (TDA) development at KIPO was also provided.
Officials from CIPO's delegation, headed by Mr. Louis Vadebonceour, presented its Operational Systems
Renewal Initiative and explained its cooperative activities with the USPTO in the field of office
automation and patent data.
A general discussion followed and officials agreed to continue the discussion electronically.
Visits such as those by YIPO and KIPO promote increased IP understanding and cooperation between
Canada and other APEC nations along with strengthened trade ties.
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