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 reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CIPO operations and represent an estimate of expected performance. As we further adjust and eventually recover from this situation, our performance and targets will improve.
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 2020-2021
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Result % |
| Sending of a first office action for application with a request for examination |
Within 14 months |
90% |
77%Footnote 1 |
| Following receipt of a client response, sending of a subsequent office action |
Biotechnology |
8 months |
90% |
82%Footnote 1 |
| Electrical |
8 months |
90% |
92% |
| Mechanical |
5 months |
90% |
94% |
| Organic chemistry |
5 months |
90% |
96% |
| General chemistry |
5 months |
90% |
86%Footnote 1 |
Patent Appeal Board 2020-2021
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Result % |
| Sending of a Commissioner's decision |
Within 31 months upon receipt of a referral to Patent Appeal Board of a rejected application |
80% |
79% |
Trademarks 2020-2021
| 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% |
100% |
| for paper application |
Within 10 business days upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements including fees |
90% |
8%Footnote 2 |
| Sending of a first office action (approval or examiner's report) |
Within 22 months from filing date |
90% |
30%Footnote 2 |
| Responding to client |
Within 3 months upon receipt of correspondence |
90% |
67%Footnote 2 |
| Registering a trademark |
for electronic application |
Within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic request and fees |
90% |
99.8% |
| for paper application |
Within 15 business days upon receipt of paper request and fees |
90% |
17%Footnote 2 |
Trademarks Opposition Board 2020-2021
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Result % |
| Scheduling of a hearing for opposition |
Within 24 months of receipt of a client request |
90% |
78%Footnote 3 |
| Scheduling of a hearing for Section 45 proceedings |
Within 24 months of receipt of a client request |
90% |
76%Footnote 3 |
| Issuing of a decision following a hearing for opposition |
Within 4 months of the hearing |
90% |
82%Footnote 3 |
| Issuing of a decision following a hearing for Section 45 proceedings |
Within 4 months of the hearing |
90% |
93% |
| Issuing of a decision in non-hearing cases for opposition |
Within 18 months after the expiry of the deadline to request a hearing |
90% |
78%Footnote 3 |
| Issuing of a decision in non-hearing cases for Section 45 proceedings |
Within 18 months after the expiry of the deadline to request a hearing |
90% |
100% |
Industrial Designs 2020-2021
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Result % |
| Issuing of a filing date for an industrial design application |
Within 10 business days upon receipt of application that meets filing requirements |
90% |
82%Footnote 4 |
| Providing a first action (allowance without a report or issuance of a 1st report) |
Within 12 months from filing date |
90% |
59%Footnote 4 |
| Recording of an assignment |
Within 12 business days upon receipt of a request that meets the requirements |
90% |
62%Footnote 4 |
Copyright 2020-2021
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Result |
| Registering a copyright |
electronic application |
within 1 business day upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements |
90% |
93% |
| paper application |
within 5 business days upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements |
90% |
18%Footnote 5 |
Client Service Centre 2020-2021
| Service |
Performance target |
Expectation |
Result % |
| Answering phone calls for general enquiries |
Within 5 minutes upon receipt of enquiry in phone queue |
90% |
47%Footnote 6 |
| Responding to general enquiries by voicemail |
Within 1 business day upon receipt of enquiry in voicemail queue |
90% |
84%Footnote 6 |
| Responding to general enquiries by mail, email or fax |
Within 2 business days upon receipt |
90% |
96% |
| Providing access to an information officer on-site in the Client Service Centre |
Within 5 minutes upon receipt of request |
90% |
Not ApplicableFootnote 7 |
| 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% |
63%Footnote 6 |
Performance targets
