About us

Department Structure

Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), a special operating agency within Industry Canada, is responsible for granting intellectual property (IP) rights and for the overall administration of the Patent Act, the Trade-marks Act, the Industrial Design Act, the Integrated Circuit Topography Act and parts of the Copyright Act.

CIPO's role is to promote the effective use of IP information and the IP system to further innovation, invention and creativity for the benefit of Canadians and Canadian businesses.

Client Service Centre
Information Branch
Patent Branch
Patent Appeal Board
Trade-marks Branch
Trade-marks Opposition Board
Copyright and Industrial Design Branch
Corporate Strategies and Services

Client Service Centre

CIPO's Client Service Centre (CSC) is the point of entry for CIPO's general enquiries. It plays a critical role in disseminating IP information to clients and the public. The CSC also offers client-specific products and services, as well as assistance with a wide variety of IP procedures and databases. The CSC strives to provide effective and timely responses to general enquiries from clients.

Product Lines

Information Branch

The responsibility of CIPO's Information Branch is to increase the awareness and knowledge of IP and the effective use of IP information, products and services; to disseminate quality IP information; and to foster a client-centred environment.

Patent Branch^*

The Patent Branch receives and examines all patent applications, and the Commissioner of Patents is responsible for determining whether or not to grant and issue a patent pursuant to the Patent Act and Patent Rules. The Commissioner of Patents carries out these decision-making functions on an independent quasi-judicial basis. The decisions are subject to appeal to the Federal Court.

^* Also known as the Patent Office

Patent Appeal Board

The Patent Appeal Board (PAB) is an advisory body made up of senior officials from the Patent Branch.

In carrying out the duties under the Patent Act, the Commissioner of Patents performs acts that are quasi-judicial in nature. In general, the PAB is responsible for advising and providing recommendations to the Commissioner of Patents on how to perform those duties.

Trade-marks Branch^**

The Trade-marks Branch receives and examines all trade-mark applications. The Registrar of Trade-marks is responsible for determining whether or not to register such marks pursuant to the Trade-marks Act and Trade-marks Regulations. The Registrar of Trade-marks carries out these decision-making functions on an independent quasi-judicial basis, and these decisions are subject to appeal to the Federal Court.

^** Also known as the Trade-marks Office

Trade-marks Opposition Board

The Trade-marks Opposition Board (TMOB) is an administrative tribunal that acts on behalf of the Registrar of Trade-marks.

The TMOB deals with two different types of proceedings:

Opposition: where a third party opposes the registration of a proposed trade-mark
Summary expungement (section 45 of the Trade-marks Act): where there is a request for the removal of a trade-mark from the Trade-marks Register on the grounds that the mark is not being used in Canada

Copyright and Industrial Design Branch ^***

The Copyright and Industrial Design (CID) Branch is responsible for the registration of three forms of intellectual property: copyrights, industrial designs and integrated circuit topographies.

Under the Registrar of Copyrights, the CID Branch receives and processes copyright applications and registers copyrights in accordance with the Copyright Act and Copyright Regulations.

^*** Also known as the Copyright Office

Pursuant to the provisions of the Industrial Design Act and Industrial Design Regulations, the Industrial Design Division receives and examines industrial design applications and registers industrial designs on behalf of the Commissioner of Patents.

Under the Registrar of Topographies, the CID Branch is also responsible for receiving and examining all applications for the registration of integrated circuit topographies — pursuant to the Integrated Circuit Topography Act and Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations.

Corporate Strategies and Services

Corporate Strategies and Services is responsible for providing corporate direction and leadership in addressing critical corporate and service delivery issues that affect CIPO's ability and capacity to meet its strategic objectives and operational goals.

This group includes: