CIPO ANNOUNCES PROPOSED FEE INCREASE FOR IMPLEMENTATION JANUARY 1, 2024

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has today announced the publication of its proposed fee increase in the Canada Gazette, Part I.  While publication in Part I of the Gazette provides an opportunity for public consultation until January 30, 2023, the public consultation process is unlikely to result in any significant changes to the proposed fee increase.

Citing structural deficits where revenues from fees no longer cover the costs required to deliver services, CIPO is proposing to increase most fees by 25% in an effort to catch up with almost 30% inflation since 2004.  The proposed fee increase is to take effect January 1, 2024.

A summary of the proposed increase as applied to some of the more common patent and trademark fees is set out in the tables below:

Proposed Fee Increase – Trademarks

Proposed Fee Increase – Patents

Holders of Canadian patents and trademarks are encouraged to review their filing strategies and renewal/maintenance portfolios to determine whether cost savings may be realized by filing and/or paying renewal/maintenance fees early, in advance of the anticipated fee increases.  Further, patent applicants who are considering filing in Canada may wish to enter national phase (or file a Convention application) and/or request examination, prior to the expected fee increase.

For more information about the proposed fee increases, please contact David Barrans, Johanna Coutts or Christopher Dejardin at Cassan Maclean IP Agency.