Performance targets represent the level of performance that clients can expect when requesting a service from CIPO. They demonstrate CIPO's commitment to service excellence and accountability by making our performance transparent. Targets represent an estimate of expected performance.
Performance targets are distinct from CIPO's client service standards, which have been set in compliance with the Service Fees Act and are limited to CIPO services for which a fee is charged to the client.
List of performance targets
The following tables present the performance targets for CIPO services.
Patents 2023-2024
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Year-to-date performanceFootnote * |
| Sending of a first office action for application with a request for examination |
Within 17 months of request |
90% |
99% |
| Following receipt of a client response, sending of a subsequent office action |
Biotechnology |
10 months |
90% |
91% |
| Electrical |
10 months |
90% |
97% |
| Mechanical |
7 months |
90% |
98% |
| Organic chemistry |
7 months |
90% |
97% |
| General chemistry |
7 months |
90% |
97% |
| Quality of examiner's reports |
Claims are correctly identified with respect to anticipation and obviousness |
95% |
n/a |
| Quality of applications proceeding to allowance |
Claims proceeding to allowance are novel and unobvious. |
95% |
99% |
Patent Appeal Board 2023-2024
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Year-to-date performanceFootnote * |
| Sending of a Commissioner's decision |
Within 31 months upon receipt of a referral to Patent Appeal Board of a rejected application |
80% |
85% |
Trademarks 2023-2024
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Year-to-date performanceFootnote * |
| Issuing of a filing date |
Electronic application |
Within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements including fees |
95% |
100% |
| Paper application |
Within 8 weeks upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements including fees |
90% |
96% |
| Sending of a first office action (approval or examiner's report) – Madrid applications |
Within 18 months from filing date |
90% |
100% |
| Sending of a first office action (approval or examiner's report) – Domestic applications filed using the pre-approved list of goods and services |
Within 18 months from filing date |
90% |
11% |
| Sending of a first office action (approval or examiner's report) – Domestic applications filed without using the pre-approved list of goods and services |
Within 36 months from filing date |
90% |
35% |
| Responding to client |
Within 3 months upon receipt of correspondence |
90% |
41% |
| Registering a trademark |
Electronic application |
Within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic request and fees |
95% |
100% |
| Paper application |
Within 8 weeks upon receipt of paper request and fees |
90% |
88% |
Trademarks Opposition Board 2023-2024
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Year-to-date performanceFootnote * |
| Scheduling of a hearing for opposition |
Within 15 months of receipt of a client request |
90% |
100% |
| Scheduling of a hearing for Section 45 proceedings |
Within 15 months of receipt of a client request |
90% |
100% |
| Issuing of a decision following a hearing for opposition |
Within 4 months of the hearing |
90% |
93% |
| Issuing of a decision following a hearing for Section 45 proceedings |
Within 4 months of the hearing |
90% |
100% |
| Issuing of a decision in non-hearing cases for opposition |
Within 12 months after the expiry of the deadline to request a hearing |
90% |
100% |
| Issuing of a decision in non-hearing cases for Section 45 proceedings |
Within 12 months after the expiry of the deadline to request a hearing |
90% |
100% |
Industrial Designs 2023-2024
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Year-to-date performanceFootnote * |
| Issuing of a filing date for an industrial design application |
Electronic applications |
Within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements |
95% |
95% |
| Paper applications |
Within 8 weeks upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements |
90% |
100% |
| Sending a first office action (allowance without a report or issuance of a 1st report) – Hague applications |
Within 12 months from the date of publication |
90% |
100% |
| Sending a first office action (allowance without a report or issuance of a 1st report) – Domestic applications |
Within 21 months from filing date |
90% |
100% |
| Recording of an assignment |
Within 12 business days upon receipt of a request that meets the requirements |
90% |
79% |
Copyright 2023-2024
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Year-to-date performanceFootnote * |
| Registering a copyright |
Electronic applications |
within 1 business day upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements |
90% |
77% |
| Paper applications |
within 1 month upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements |
90% |
93% |
Integrated Circuit Topography 2023-2024
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Year-to-date performanceFootnote * |
| Sending a certificate of registration |
within 5 weeks upon receipt of request that meets filing requirements |
90% |
n/a |
Client Service Centre 2023-2024
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Year-to-date performanceFootnote * |
| Answering phone calls for general enquiries |
Within 9 minutes upon receipt of enquiry in phone queue |
90% |
88% |
| Responding to general enquiries by voicemail |
Within 1 business day upon receipt of enquiry in voicemail queue |
90% |
72% |
| Responding to general enquiries by mail, email or fax |
Within 2 business days upon receipt of enquiry |
90% |
84% |
| Providing access to an information officer on-site in the Client Service Centre |
Within 5 minutes upon receipt of request |
90% |
n/a |
| Sending publications, copies, or certified copies of patent, trademark, copyright or industrial design documents |
Within 7 business days upon receipt of request and fees for copies or certified copies |
90% |
85% |
Intellectual Property Data 2023-2024
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Year-to-date performanceFootnote * |
| Canadian Trademarks Database |
Updated every Wednesday when the office is open |
90% |
100% |
| Canadian Patents Database |
Updated every business day |
90% |
100% |
| Canadian Patents Database – Access to newly published applications filed directly with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office |
Updated within one (1) week of the Open to Public Inspection date |
90% |
100% |
| Canadian Patents Database – Access to newly published Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications that enter the Canadian Intellectual Property Office |
Updated within 9 weeks of the National Entry date |
90% |
n/a |
| Canadian Industrial Designs Database |
Updated every Thursday when the office is open |
90% |
100% |
| Canadian Copyrights Database |
Updated every business day |
90% |
100% |
| IP Horizons Data Portal - Access to latest available information |
Updated within 4 business days of production date. |
95% |
99% |
| IP Horizons Data Portal - Resolving general client enquiries by email |
Within 5 business days upon receipt of enquiry |
80% |
93% |
Intellectual Property Awareness and Education Services - 2023-2024
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Year-to-date performanceFootnote * |
| Responding to IP Bank of Speaker requests by email |
Within 2 business days upon receipt of request |
90% |
100% |
| IP education online tools and resources |
available in both official languages |
100% |
n/a |
Performance targets
