Government of Canada announces a new regulator for patent and trademark agents

​On June 28th, the Government of Canada’s College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPATA) was established to implement a regulatory framework for the professions of patent and trademark agents. The College is a part of Canada’s Intellectual Property Strategy and aims to ensure the integrity of these professions. 
 
The CPATA is now responsible for: 

• agent registration and maintenance
• maintenance of the public-facing list of registered trademark and patent agents 
• agent examination 
• creating and maintaining an agent code of conduct and related discipline 

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) will no longer register patent and trademark agents and passed this responsibility onto the CPATA as of June 28th. CIPO will continue with a collaborative relationship with the college and the patent and trademark agent community. 
 
For informational resources, see below:

• CIPO’s article covering the following topics: 
  • What does an agent need to know until the coming-into-force day of the College?
  • What does an agent need to know after the coming-into-force day of the College?
  • What does an exam candidate need to know?
  • What do foreign patent agents and trademark agents need to know?
  • Transfer of agent information to the College
• CIPO’s FAQ on the CPATA
• CPATA’s website

 
Graphic by Clancy PC using: 
CPATA logo from CPATA's website
Photo by Maarten van den Huevel via Unsplash