Performance targets represent the level of performance that clients can expect when requesting a service from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). They demonstrate CIPO's commitment to service excellence and accountability by making our performance transparent. Targets represent an estimate of expected performance.
Performance targets are distinct from CIPO's client service standards , which have been set in compliance with the Service Fees Act
This page contains CIPO's performance targets for the 2024–2025 fiscal year , which covers the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
For past performance targets, consult our performance target history .
List of performance targets
The following tables present the performance targets for CIPO services.
Patents 2024-2025
Service
Performance target
Expectation
Year-to-date performanceFootnote *
Sending of a first office action for application with a request for examination
Within 17 months of request
90%
N/A
Following receipt of a client response, sending of a subsequent office action
Biotechnology
10 months
90%
N/A
Electrical
10 months
90%
N/A
Mechanical
7 months
90%
N/A
Organic chemistry
7 months
90%
N/A
General chemistry
7 months
90%
N/A
Quality of examiner's 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
Availability of Patent E-Services
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year
90%
96%
Patent Appeal Board 2024-2025
Service
Performance target
Expectation
Year-to-date performanceFootnote *
Sending of a Commissioner's decision
Within 31 months upon receipt of a referral to Patent Appeal Board of a rejected application
80%
64%
Trademarks 2024-2025
Service
Performance target
Expectation
Year-to-date performanceFootnote *
Issuing of a filing date
Electronic application
Within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements including fees
95%
100%
Paper application
Within 8 weeks upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements including fees
90%
94%
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%
93%
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 28 months from filing date
90%
9%
Responding to client
Within 3 months upon receipt of correspondence
90%
53%
Registering a trademark
Electronic application
Within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic request and fees
95%
100%
Paper application
Within 8 weeks upon receipt of paper request and fees
90%
100%
Availability of Trademark E-Services
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year
90%
100%
Trademarks Opposition Board 2024-2025
Service
Performance target
Expectation
Year-to-date performanceFootnote *
Scheduling of a hearing for opposition
Within 15 months of receipt of a client request
90%
100%
Scheduling of a hearing for Section 45 proceedings
Within 15 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%
98%
Issuing of a decision following a hearing for Section 45 proceedings
Within 4 months of the hearing
90%
100%
Issuing of a decision in non-hearing cases for opposition
Within 12 months after the expiry of the deadline to request a hearing
90%
100%
Issuing of a decision in non-hearing cases for Section 45 proceedings
Within 12 months after the expiry of the deadline to request a hearing
90%
100%
Industrial Designs 2024-2025
Service
Performance target
Expectation
Year-to-date performanceFootnote *
Issuing of a filing date for an industrial design application Electronic applications
Within 5 business days upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements
95%
88%
Paper applications
Within 8 weeks upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements
90%
98%
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%
100%
Recording or registering of a transfer
Within 1 month upon receipt of a request that meets the requirements
90%
98%
Availability of Industrial Designs E-Services
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year
90%
99%
Copyright 2024-2025
Service
Performance target
Expectation
Year-to-date performanceFootnote *
Registering a copyright
Electronic applications
within 7 business days upon receipt of electronic application that meets filing requirements
90%
99%
Paper applications
within 1 month upon receipt of paper application that meets filing requirements
90%
89%
Availability of Copyright E-Services
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year
90%
98%
Integrated Circuit Topography 2024-2025
Service
Performance target
Expectation
Year-to-date performanceFootnote *
Sending a certificate of registration
within 5 weeks upon receipt of request that meets filing requirements
90%
N/A
Client Service Centre 2024-2025
Service
Performance target
Expectation
Year-to-date performanceFootnote *
Answering phone calls for general enquiries
Within 9 minutes upon receipt of enquiry in phone queue
90%
89%
Responding to general enquiries by voicemail
Within 1 business day upon receipt of enquiry in voicemail queue
90%
100%
Responding to general enquiries by mail, email or fax
Within 2 business days upon receipt of enquiry
90%
89%
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%
99%
Intellectual Property Data 2024-2025
Service
Performance target
Expectation
Year-to-date performanceFootnote *
Canadian Trademarks Database
Updated every Wednesday when the office is open
90%
100%
Canadian Trademarks Database
Data upload is complete based on the agreed-upon source of truth and conforms to acceptable format
95%
N/A
Canadian Patents Database
Updated every business day
90%
60%
Canadian Patents Database
Data upload is complete based on the agreed-upon source of truth and conforms to acceptable format
95%
N/A
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%
74%
Canadian Industrial Designs Database
Updated every Thursday when the office is open
90%
95%
Canadian Industrial Designs Database
Data upload is complete based on the agreed-upon source of truth and conforms to acceptable format
95%
N/A
Canadian Copyrights Database
Updated every business day
90%
98%
Canadian Copyrights Database
Data upload is complete based on the agreed-upon source of truth and conforms to acceptable format
95%
N/A
IP Horizons Data Portal - Access to latest available information
Updated within 4 business days of production date.
95%
99%
IP Horizons Data Portal - Resolving general client enquiries by email
Within 5 business days upon receipt of enquiry
80%
99%
Intellectual Property Awareness and Education Services - 2024-2025
Service
Performance target
Expectation
Year-to-date performanceFootnote *
Responding to IP Bank of Speaker requests by email
Within 2 business days upon receipt of request
90%
N/A
IP education online tools and resources
Available in both official languages
100%
N/A
Performance target history
