Today, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) announced that it is developing a protocol to expedite the examination of patent applications related to “green technology”. Proposed amendments to the Patent Rules would be published for comment in the Fall of 2010, meaning that the fast-track program would not likely take effect until late 2010 or early 2011. 

When it is implemented, the program will make Canada more competitive internationally in this growing industry, since the US, UK, South Korea, and Australia have all implemented similar fast-track programs to earmark cleantech inventions for expedited examination.

Our earlier posts:

• CleanTech Fast Track in the US
• Should Canada Fast Track CleanTech Patents?  

Calgary 09:30 MT