Canada announces new patent and TM agent regulator
The Canadian Government has appointed a new independent regulator for patent and trademark agents.
Responding to long-standing requests to institute a dedicated regulator, the new College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPTA) will now govern the agent profession, transferring the responsibility away from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.
As an independent regulator, the college will enforce a code of professional conduct for agents, as well as a licensing system to ensure only qualified professionals are authorised to provide agent services.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry said: “The establishment of the CPTA marks an important milestone not only for our government's IP strategy but also for the entire patent and trademark profession.
“I look forward to seeing the college become a strong and dedicated professional regulator that will promote the highest quality of IP supports so Canadians can better protect and leverage their good ideas.”
The introduction of the college is the latest step in Canada’s Intellectual Property Strategy, which has seen the government invest $85.3 million over the past five years to give creators, entrepreneurs and innovators better access to IP.
IP lawyers Jeffrey Astle, Karima Bawa, Thomas Conway, Ruth McHugh and Douglas Thompson have been appointed as the college’s board of directors, with Conway serving as the chair.
Conway said: “The college is committed to being a modern, risk-focused, public interest regulator. We are building our infrastructure to deliver on the expectations of stakeholders while promoting clear standards to enhance the competence and practice of patent and trademark agents."
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