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. We aim to meet our performance targets 80% to 95% of the time, depending on the service.
Performance targets are distinct from CIPO's 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 2018-2019 | Service | Performance Target | Expectation | Result |
| Issuing of a filing certificate or an acknowledgement letter of national entry date | Within 15 business days upon receipt of an application that meets filing or entry requirements | 90% | 97% |
| Issuing of a registration certificate | Within 15 business days upon receipt of a request that meets assignment registration requirements | 90% | 97% |
| Issuing of an acknowledgement letter of a request for examination made after filing | Within 15 business days upon receipt of a request for examination | 90% | 99% |
| Sending of a first office action for application with a request for examination | Within 14 months | 90% | 97% |
| Following receipt of a client response, sending of a subsequent office action | Biotechnology | 9 months | 90% | 98% |
| Electrical | 8 months | 90% | 98% |
| Mechanical | 5 months | 90% | 97% |
| Organic chemistry | 5 months | 90% | 99% |
| General chemistry | 5 months | 90% | 94% |
| Sending of an office action for expedited examination | Within 3 months upon receipt of request and compliance with the requirements | 90% | 96% |
| Granting of a patent | Within 8 weeks upon submission of payment of final fee | 90% | 91% |
Patent Appeal Board 2018-2019 | Service | Performance Target | Expectation | Result |
| Sending of a Commissioner's decision | Within 24 months upon receipt of a referral to Patent Appeal Board of a rejected application | 80% | 38% Footnote 1 |
Trademarks 2018-2019 | Service | Performance Target | Expectation | Result |
| Issuing of a filing date | for electronic application | within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements including fees | 90% | 90% |
| for paper application | within 10 business days upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements including fees | 90% | 80% Footnote 2 |
| Sending of a first office action (approval or examiner's report) | within 9 months from filing date | 90% | 12% Footnote 2 |
| Responding to client | within 3 months upon receipt of correspondence | 90% | 73% Footnote 2 |
| Register a trademark | for electronic application | within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic request and fees | 90% | 100% |
| for paper application | within 12 business days upon receipt of paper request and fees | 90% | 62% Footnote 2 |
Trademarks Opposition Board 2018-2019 | Service | Performance Target | Expectation | Result |
| Scheduling of a hearing for opposition | Within 15 months of receipt of a client request | 90% | 76% Footnote 3 |
| Scheduling of a hearing for Section 45 proceedings | Within 15 months of receipt of a client request | 90% | 80% Footnote 3 |
| Issuing of a decision following a hearing for opposition | Within 4 months of the hearing date | 90% | 84% Footnote 3 |
| Issuing of a decision following a hearing for Section 45 proceedings | Within 4 months of the hearing date | 90% | 97% |
| Issuing of a decision in non-hearing cases for opposition | Within 15 months after the expiry of the deadline to request a hearing | 90% | 94% |
| Issuing of a decision in non-hearing cases for Section 45 proceedings | Within 15 months after the expiry of the deadline to request a hearing | 90% | 88% Footnote 3 |
Industrial Designs 2018-2019 | Service | Performance Target | Expectation | Result |
| Issue filing date for an industrial design application | Within 15 business days upon receipt of application that meets filing requirements | 90% | 100% |
| Provide first action (allowance without a report or issuance of a 1st report) | within 11 months from filing date | 90% | 97% |
| Recording of an assignment | Within 15 business days upon receipt of a request that meets the requirements | 90% | 97% |
Copyright 2018-2019 | Service | Performance Target | Expectation | Result |
| Registering a copyright | electronic application | within 2 business days upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements | 90% | 97% |
| paper application | within 7 business days upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements | 90% | 99% |
Client Service Centre 2018-2019 | Service | Performance Target | Expectation | Result |
| Responding to general enquiries by telephone | Immediately or call will be returned within 1 business day | 95% | 99% |
| Responding to general enquiries by mail, email or fax | Within 2 business days upon receipt | 95% | 98% |
| Providing access to an information officer on-site in the Client Service Centre | Within 5 minutes upon receipt of request | 95% | 80% Footnote 4 |
| Sending publications, copies, or certified copies of patent, trademark, copyright or industrial design documents | Within 3 business days upon receipt of request and fees for copies or certified copies | 90% | 81% Footnote 5 |
Performance targets
