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The Canadian Government has appointed a new independent regulator for patent and trademark agents.
Responding
to long-standing requests to institute a dedicated regulator, the new
College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPTA) will now govern the
agent profession, transferring the responsibility away from the
Canadian Intellectual Property Office.
As an independent
regulator, the college will enforce a code of professional conduct for
agents, as well as a licensing system to ensure only qualified
professionals are authorised to provide agent services.
The
Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science
and industry said: “The establishment of the CPTA marks an important
milestone not only for our government's IP strategy but also for the
entire patent and trademark profession.
“I look forward to seeing
the college become a strong and dedicated professional regulator that
will promote the highest quality of IP supports so Canadians can better
protect and leverage their good ideas.”
The introduction of the
college is the latest step in Canada’s Intellectual Property Strategy,
which has seen the government invest $85.3 million over the past five
years to give creators, entrepreneurs and innovators better access to
IP.
IP lawyers Jeffrey Astle, Karima Bawa, Thomas Conway, Ruth
McHugh and Douglas Thompson have been appointed as the college’s board
of directors, with Conway serving as the chair.
Conway said: “The
college is committed to being a modern, risk-focused, public interest
regulator. We are building our infrastructure to deliver on the
expectations of stakeholders while promoting clear standards to enhance
the competence and practice of patent and trademark agents."
Related reading:
Government of Canada announces new independent regulator for patent and trademark agents
Source:www.worldipreview.com
Editor:IPRdaily-Vapor