Advanced Examination of Patent Applications Related to Green Technology
The Canadian Patent Office has announced an initiative to enable expedited prosecution of patent applications related to green technology. Under this proposed initiative, the current Patent Rules would be amended to grant advanced examination for such applications, with no additional fee.
To be granted access to the expedited examination service, a patent applicant would be required to submit a declaration stating that their application relates to technology that could help resolve or mitigate environmental impacts or conserve the natural environment and resources, if commercialized. Within two months of receiving a request for expedited prosecution under the new Rules along with the declaration, the Patent Office is expected to produce a substantive office action within two months. The applicant's time to respond to this office action will subsequently be shortened from the standard 6-month period, to a 3-month period.
It is hoped that these amendments to the Rules will foster investment and expedite commercialization of technology that will support the development of a clean energy economy.
This proposal will be recommended for publication for a 30-day consultation period in the Canada Gazette, Part I in fall of '10. At this time, it will be open for submissions relating to the proposal.
More information on this new initiative can be found on the CIPO website.
