Government Publishes Regulations for College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPATA) - Coming Into Force Date Also Announced

The Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) is pleased to announce an important milestone has been reached in a decades long effort to establish a College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPATA) to regulate the agency profession in Canada. Today, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) published the final regulations to guide the work of the CPATA within Canada Gazette Part II. Additionally, an Order in Council has been passed concerning the College’s coming into force date. As of this Monday, June 28th, 2021, Patent Agents and Trademark Agents will have a regulatory body and self-governance framework within Canada.

“These Regulations mark the culmination of a long journey towards self-regulation for the IP agency profession, a journey which began some 20 years ago. Throughout this time, IPIC has been at the forefront of advocating on behalf of the profession, working tirelessly with government towards a self-regulatory regime. Thanks to the dedication of IPIC staff and countless hours of volunteer work by members, CPATA is now, finally, a reality,” said Stephanie Chong, President of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada.

 The new framework will ensure a robust highly trained community of IP professionals within Canada that will support our economy while holding its members to the highest development and ethical standards. The opening of the CPATA is a key step that will solidify the excellence of the IP profession in Canada and support a strong IP system.

"Intellectual property is vital to driving our innovation economy forward. I am pleased that the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents will soon be coming-into-force. It has been a pleasure working with IPIC through this process and I am looking forward to the new College governing the profession and promoting the highest quality of IP support in Canada,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

This long-awaited announcement is welcomed by IPIC leadership and the volunteers from our Professional Regulation, Patent, and Trademarks Committees who have been working closely with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) policy officials in making significant changes to the draft regulations that were originally published by ISED in March 2021. The amendments being sought by IPIC were a result of the excellent feedback we received from our members about the impact the draft regulations could have on their practice.

“On June 28th, the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPATA) will officially begin their journey as one of only a few professional self-regulatory bodies that operate at a federal level in Canada.  IPIC would like to thank the Minister of Industry, Science and Innovation, The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne for bringing this important initiative over the finish line just in time to ensure trust remains high in the IP profession as they support Canada’s innovative companies in our post-COVID economic recovery,” said Adam Kingsley, CEO of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada.

Upon opening, CPATA will continue to be led by the steady hand of CEO and Registrar Darrel Pink, who has a long history in the regulation of legal professions in Canada, as well as a highly qualified Board of Directors with representatives from various regulated professions and Canada’s innovative industries. For more information about CPATA’s structure and processes, please visit their website: www.cpata-cabamc.ca

To provide more information about the regulations and the impacts of the new system on agency practice IPIC is offering a FREE webinar for all IPIC members on Tuesday July 13th from 1:00pm to 2:30pm ET. The webinar will be presented by IPIC President Stephanie Chong, the CEO/Registrar of CPATA Darrel Pink, and IPIC Patent Committee Practice Lead, Jenna Wilson and will be an excellent opportunity for members to hear directly from IPIC leadership and the leadership of CPATA. Please click here to register.