Patent Information in Canada
Having a patent on your invention will ensure that you get credit for your work and ideas, as well as any income generated. Patents are not international, so it is important to apply for a patent in each country where you want protection.
Other People Are Reading
-
A Patent
-
With a patent, an inventor gets exclusive rights to their invention for up to 20 years. They are required to provide full details of the invention so other Canadians can benefit from the technology they have developed. This is meant to encourage more development and inventions from Canadians.
The Patent Office
-
The Patent Office is the national agency that keeps records and documents, examines applications and publishes patent information.
The office has 500 employees who review 30,000 applications a year.
-
What Can be Patented
-
According to the Business Development Center, items to receive a patent must be new, be useful and show "inventive ingenuity" (not be obvious to someone skilled in the area).
When to File
-
Patents are granted to the first person who fills out an application, so if you believe you have something special and worthy of a patent, it is best to file an application as soon as possible. However, if you file while you are still developing your invention, you may not have enough information to get a patent.
Searching for a Patent
-
It may be useful to search for existing patents. This is useful to students and researchers who want to see patterns in patent development or find out if an invention already has a patent. This can be done online through the Canadian Intellectual Property Office database (see Resources) or their service center.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit ligh bulb image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
