The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)'s 2019-2020 Annual Report was tabled in the House of Commons on June 21, 2021.
This annual report shines a light on the great strides and achievements from the last fiscal year.
CIPO is an essential player in the innovation ecosystem, both in Canada and in the world. Our contribution to innovation lies not only in our efficient administration of quality IP rights, but in our expertise. With an eye to the future, CIPO will continue to improve the quality and timeliness of our services and to lead on the international stage.
Quotes
"As our fiscal year came to an end, we witnessed, along with the rest of the world, the global impacts of COVID-19. CIPO has worked in earnest and in deep collaboration with clients, with the intellectual property (IP) professional community and with international counterparts to ensure that the IP system remained operational and resilient through the onslaught of the pandemic. The achievements outlined in our annual report are due to the hard work and contribution of every employee at CIPO. Beyond the COVID-19 response, the 2019-2020 fiscal year was a year of great accomplishments. I am very proud of the progress we have made over the last year. Together, we are shaping CIPO as a catalyst for innovation while holding true to our values and commitment to achieve excellence."
Konstantinos Georgaras, Chief Executive Officer (interim)
Quick facts
-
In 2019−2020, CIPO received more applications for trademarks and industrial designs, but fewer applications for patents and copyrights, compared to the previous year.
- Patents - 37,999 applications (down 3%)
- Trademarks - 68,385 applications (up 8%)
- Industrial designs - 7,408 applications (up 21%)
- Copyright 8,753 - registrations (down 5%)
-
On our first day as a member of the Madrid Protocol, Canada was designated in 96 international trademark applications, the highest single-day total for any member country. By March 31, 2020, Canada had been designated in over 15,527 international trademark applications filed through the Madrid System. As an Office of origin, CIPO received 453 applications for international registrations.
-
In 2019−2020, Canada was designated in over 1,845 international industrial design applications under the Hague Agreement; the applications contained over 12,021 designs.
-
CIPO received 2,310 International Searching Authority applications and 175 International Preliminary Examination Authority applications through the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
-
CIPO is a signatory to 14 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with other countries and organizations that promote cooperation and improve the functionality of the international IP system.
-
In 2019-2020, CIPO held more than 120 seminars and webinars-attended by more than 1,400 participants-on a range of topics such as IP foundations, IP strategy, IP commercialization and the protection of IP in other countries.
-
Through more than 50 partnerships and collaborations with federal and provincial governments, business associations, incubators, intermediaries and academia, CIPO's IP awareness and education program promotes the strategic use of IP among small and medium-sized enterprises in key growth sectors.
