Status Update 3-Years Post-CIF

This post examines the status—as of  CIPO’s 20 June 2022 data refresh—of the 223,208 applications CIPO has received over the past three years since coming into force (CIF) of the 17 June 2019 amendments to the Trademarks Act, RSC 1985 c. T-13.

The Pre-Assessment Problem

Practitioners and applicants alike have expressed dismay and dissatisfaction with CIPO’s pre-assessment initiative, which began on March 23, 2022.

Pre-Assessment Data Disconformity

There is a disconformity between some pre-assessment letter details presented via CIPO’s online trademark database and those presented in CIPO’s trademark .xml data.  Hundreds of applications appear to be affected.

Registrability Recognized under the Trademarks Act

In its online database, CIPO annotates certain marks “Registrability Recognized under the Trademarks Act”.  The annotations can’t be found by searching the database; they can only be found by reviewing each weekly issue of the Trademarks Journal or by working with CIPO’s trademark .xml data.

Trademark Agent Registration Numbers

Now that the College has given you a CPATA Number, your CIPO-allocated trademark agent registration number is irrelevant, right?  Wrong!

Top Filers in 2021

This post lists the top filers of Canadian trademark applications¹ in 2021.  A separate breakdown is provided for Canadian applicants.

2021 Filings by Applicant Country (and Province)

This post breaks down the trademark applications¹ CIPO received in 2021 by Applicant country.  A separate breakdown by Canadian province is provided for Canadian applicants.

2021 Trend Chart Updates

Having closed the books on 2021, we can update some trend charts with the 2021 data.

2021 Filings by Type / Class / Category / Status

This post provides a mark type / class / category / status breakdown of the 78,405 trademark applications¹ CIPO received in 2021.

2021 Agent Appointment Statistics

CIPO received 78,405 trademark applications¹ in 2021.  This post provides an agent-focused statistical summary² of those filings.

2021 Agent vs. no Agent Filings

CIPO received 78,405 trademark applications¹ in 2021.  This post breaks them down² in terms of filings which either do or do not appoint an agent—for all filings, Madrid filings and non-Madrid filings respectively.

2021 Agent Rankings

CIPO received 78,405 trademark applications¹ in 2021.  This post ranks them as of 31-Dec-2021 in terms of the number of appointments per agent on behalf of: (1) all applicants, (2) Canadian resident applicants and (3) non-Canadian resident applicants.

The College’s Agent Roster as of 31-Dec-2021

This post summarizes the provincial distribution of Canadian patent and trademark agents as of 31-Dec-2021.

Has the Backlog Stabilized?

CIPO’s backlog of unexamined trademark applications appears to have stabilized somewhat.  For the past 7 weeks (i.e. since mid-October 2021) the backlog has hovered at around 180,000 applications although it is still creeping upward.

Registrar-Initiated Section 45 Requests

The previous post discussed non-use expungement proceedings initiated by a third party pursuant to Section 45 of the Trademarks Act R.S.C., 1985, c. T-13 (the TMA).  This post pertains to the initiation of such proceedings by the Registrar on his or her own initiative¹.