CIPO Client Service Standards for 2007-2008
Patent Branch
Patent Appeal Board
Trade-marks Branch
Trade-marks Opposition Board
Copyright Office
Industrial Design Division
Client Service Centre (Information Branch)
Reproduction and Sales Section (Information Branch)
Client Service Standards for 2006-07
Services |
Client Service Standards |
Patent Branch |
Issue filing certificate for patent applications meeting filing requirements |
within four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of the application |
Issue confirmation of national entry for Patent Cooperation Treaty
(PCT) applications meeting entry requirements |
within eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of the application |
Issue an ownership registration certificate |
within six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of documentation |
Provide a first substantive examination (80% of applications
with a request for examination will be waiting for a first substantive examination action,
including all known objections to patentability) |
80% of applications less than 24 months |
|
Patent Appeal Board |
Patents
• contact applicant to arrange hearing date |
within two (2) months |
Industrial Designs
• contact applicant to arrange hearing date |
within two (2) months |
Note: CIPO is committed to providing service at the level specified, and on
average over the year, it is expected that this service level will be achieved. There may be some
instances where service does not meet the service standard due to unforeseen circumstances.
Services |
Client Service Standards |
Trade-marks Branch |
Acknowledge correctly filed new applications |
within seven (7) working days of filing date |
Approve acceptable applications or issue first examination reports |
within six (6) months |
Respond to client correspondence received subsequent to a first action |
within four (4) months of receiving correspondence |
|
Trade-marks Opposition Board |
Oral hearing date |
- opposition
|
within 14 months of receipt of request (no postponements) |
- section 45
|
within 18 months of receipt of request |
Decisions issued |
- non-hearing opposition
|
within 11 months of file being ready for decision |
- non-hearing section 45
|
within 13 months of file being ready for decision |
Note: CIPO is committed to providing service at the level specified, and on
average over the year, it is expected that this service level will be achieved. There may be some
instances where service does not meet the service standard due to unforeseen circumstances.
Services |
Client Service Standards |
Copyright Office |
Register a copyright and issue a certificate |
- for applications received by mail
|
within six (6) working days from receipt of application and fees |
- for applications filed electronically
|
within three (3) working days from receipt of application and fees |
- for "accelerated action" applications received by mail
|
within three (3) working days from receipt of application and fees |
Register a grant of interest and issue a certificate for a copyright |
within 12 working days from receipt of application and fees |
Note: CIPO is committed to providing service at the level specified, and on
average over the year, it is expected that this service level will be achieved. There may be some
instances where service does not meet the service standard due to unforeseen circumstances.
Services |
Client Service Standards |
Industrial Design Division |
Issue filing certificate or issue report indicating industrial design application
is incomplete |
within four (4) weeks of receipt of application |
Examine application to assess the registrability of the design:
allow the design or issue first examiner's report |
within 13 months of the receipt of application |
Note: CIPO is committed to providing service at the level specified, and on
average over the year, it is expected that this service level will be achieved. There may be some
instances where service does not meet the service standard due to unforeseen circumstances.
Services |
Client Service Standards |
Client Service Centre1 (Information Branch) |
Respond to telephone enquiries or voice mails |
immediately upon receipt or call will be returned within 24 hours 3 |
Respond to general correspondence, email or fax requests |
within 48 hours upon receipt in the Client Service Centre 3 |
Provide access to an information officer (on site) |
within 10 minutes of their request |
Send intellectual property publications |
publications will be mailed within 48 hours 3 |
|
Reproduction and Sales Section (Information Branch) |
Send photocopies of patent and trade-mark documents in paper or electronic form |
72 hours 3 from receipt of request and with proof of payment2 |
Send certified copies of patent, trade-mark and copyright documents in paper form |
72 hours 3 from receipt of request and with proof of payment2 |
1. The Client Service Centre's business hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
from Monday to Friday (with the exception of statutory holidays).
2. Some exceptions may apply due to delays in receiving materials from archives.
3. Please note that when referring to hours in the service standards above, these exclude weekends and statutory holidays.
Note: CIPO is committed to providing service at the level specified, and on
average over the year, it is expected that this service level will be achieved. There may be some
instances where service does not meet the service standard due to unforeseen circumstances.
|