Glossary

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Abandonment (industrial designs)

If a response to an examiner's report is not received within the specified period for reply, the application shall be considered abandoned.

Abandonment (patents)

A pending patent application may become abandoned for different reasons. These reasons may include not receiving a reply in good faith to an examiner's requisition within the time frame specified, not completing the application within three months of the notice requiring completion, not paying the maintenance fees on time, not requesting examination and paying the fee within five years of filing the application or seven years as the case may be, and others.

Abandonment (trade-marks)

An application for trade-mark registration may be considered abandoned if the applicant does not take steps to complete the process.

Abstract

A brief summary of an invention to identify the key features.

Advertisement

Publication of applications for registration of trade-marks in the Trade-marks Journal. Details are published to allow opportunity for challenges to the application.

Allowance

Acknowledgement by the Trade-marks Office that an application is eligible for registration of a trade-mark or an acknowledgement by the Patent Office that you will be granted a patent.

Application

The formal request for obtaining protection of an intellectual property right.

Approval

When an application for obtaining protection of an intellectual property right has been accepted.

Artistic work

Any visual representation such as a painting, drawing, map, photograph, sculpture, engraving or architectural plan.

Assignment

In terms of intellectual property, it is the complete transfer of all or part of the intellectual property rights from the owner to another party.

Author

The creator of an artistic, literary, musical or dramatic work.

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Branding strategy

A strategy that identifies a mark, symbol, word(s) or combination of same that separates one company's product or service from that of another. The brand strategy involves deciding which brands or brand elements (e.g. names, logos, symbols, characters, slogans, jingles or packages) will be applied to the company's products or services. The purpose of a brand is to establish a meaningful, differentiated presence that will attract and retain loyal customers.

Business Gateway

The Web site designed to provide Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises with an entry point for direct access to key services and information from across the Government of Canada.

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