Performance targets 2022-2023

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 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.

This page contains CIPO's performance targets for the 2022–2023 fiscal year, which covered the period from to .

For our most recent performance targets, consult our page for the current fiscal year.

List of performance targets

The following tables present the performance targets for CIPO services.

Patents 2022-2023
Service Performance target Expectation PerformanceFootnote *
Sending of a first office action for application with a request for examination Within 14 months of request 90% 71%
Following receipt of a client response, sending of a subsequent office action Biotechnology 8 months 90% 88%
Electrical 8 months 90% 94%
Mechanical 5 months 90% 94%
Organic chemistry 5 months 90% 92%
General chemistry 5 months 90% 96%
Quality of examination 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% n/a
Patent Appeal Board 2022-2023
Service Performance target Expectation PerformanceFootnote *
Sending of a Commissioner's decision Within 31 months upon receipt of a referral to Patent Appeal Board of a rejected application 80% 81%
Trademarks 2022-2023
Service Performance target Expectation PerformanceFootnote *
Issuing of a filing date for electronic application Within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements including fees 95% 100%
for paper application Within 8 weeks upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements including fees 90% 98%
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% 7%
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% 38%
Responding to client Within 3 months upon receipt of correspondence 90% 56%
Registering a trademark for electronic application Within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic request and fees 95% 100%
for paper application Within 8 weeks upon receipt of paper request and fees 90% 97%
Trademarks Opposition Board 2022-2023
Service Performance target Expectation PerformanceFootnote *
Scheduling of a hearing for opposition Within 24 months of receipt of a client request 90% 99%
Scheduling of a hearing for Section 45 proceedings Within 24 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% 86%
Issuing of a decision following a hearing for Section 45 proceedings Within 4 months of the hearing 90% 92%
Issuing of a decision in non-hearing cases for opposition Within 18 months after the expiry of the deadline to request a hearing 90% 96%
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 2022-2023
Service Performance target Expectation PerformanceFootnote *
Issuing of a filing date for an industrial design application Electronic Within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements 95% 92%
Paper Within 8 weeks upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements 90% 97%
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% 96%
Recording of an assignment Within 12 business days upon receipt of a request that meets the requirements 90% 100%
Copyright 2022-2023
Service Performance target Expectation PerformanceFootnote *
Registering a copyright electronic application within 1 business day upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements 90% 85%
paper application within 1 month upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements 90% 89%
Client Service Centre 2022-2023
Service Performance target Expectation PerformanceFootnote *
Answering phone calls for general enquiries Within 9 minutes upon receipt of enquiry in phone queue 90% 68%
Responding to general enquiries by voicemail Within 1 business day upon receipt of enquiry in voicemail queue 90% 59%
Responding to general enquiries by mail, email or fax Within 2 business days upon receipt of enquiry 90% 56%
Providing access to an information officer on-site in the Client Service Centre –This service has been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 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% 96%
Intellectual Property Data 2022-2023
Service Performance target Expectation 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% 96%
IP Horizons Data Portal - Resolving general client enquiries by email Within 5 business days upon receipt of enquiry 80% 94%
Intellectual Property Awareness and Education Program - Advisory Service 2022-2023
Service Performance target Expectation PerformanceFootnote *
Responding to IP Bank of Speaker requests by email Within 2 business days upon receipt of request 90% 100%

Performance targets

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