CIPO releases 2009-2010 Business Plan

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has released its 2009-2010 Business Plan.

The Business Plan focuses on increasing standards, education and resources. The 28-page document sets out CIPO’s strategies for the Enterprise Business Renewal (EBR) programme. The EBR programme is designed to improve CIPO’s business processes, renew its systems and increase electronic communications for both clients and staff. 
 

CIPO formed the EBR programme to meet its clients’ needs and demands. The programme benefits both CIPO's clients and staff in implementing:

Over the next few years, CIPO will introduce more electronic communications between clients and staff, enabling information to be processed more quickly, efficiently and accurately. During the next year, CIPO will focus on obtaining the appropriate levels of approval on the Integrated Client and Case Management Solution (ICCMS) project, which will allow for client interaction management and IP case management. Ultimately, the ICCMS project will enhance CIPO’s ability to track client interactions and correspondence effectively and efficiently. In the next year, CIPO will continue to meet its clients’ demands by placing a higher value on reducing turnaround times on communications with examiners and review boards. Key activities in support of the new timelines will include:

CIPO’s long-term objective is to become a proper electronic office to serve the global economy better. In developing its objective to serve a larger client base, CIPO also recognized the importance of educating Canadians in the value of IP rights. Over the next year, CIPO will commence phase one of three of the Outreach Business Renewal initiative. This initiative is proactive in educating the public in recognizing the importance of protecting its intellectual property. By educating secondary and post-secondary graduates as to the value and importance of intellectual property, CIPO hopes that young Canadians will be better positioned to contribute to the realization of its business value. CIPO will also research the best way to reach the general Canadian audience in promoting IP rights to encourage inventors and innovations.

In the past, CIPO has been proactive in supporting developing countries in order to build relationships for Canadian exports into emerging economies. In continuing to provide technical assistance through programmes and services in developing countries, CIPO will also continue to share research information to better understand the value of IP systems. CIPO will also work with Australia, New Zealand and the United States (UCAN group) in developing and providing useful tools for trademark applicants.