{"id":14297,"date":"2023-04-26T17:21:29","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T17:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cpatacabamcdev.wpengine.com\/?p=14297"},"modified":"2023-06-27T13:56:08","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T13:56:08","slug":"new-by-laws-licence-fees-for-2024-changes-to-licence-classes-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cpata-cabamc.ca\/en\/new-by-laws-licence-fees-for-2024-changes-to-licence-classes-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"New By-Laws: Licence Fees for 2024, Changes to Licence Classes and more\u202f\u202f"},"content":{"rendered":"

CPATA\u2019s new By-laws<\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0will come into effect on May 1. We have summarized some of the main elements below so that licensees and other stakeholders understand the most <\/span>important changes<\/span> and how they will improve CPATA\u2019s ability to fulfil its regulatory mandate.\u202f\u202f<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Increase in Annual Licence Fees Starting in 2024<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

CPATA\u2019s main source of revenue comes from fees collected from licensees, primarily the annual licence fees which support our operations. The fees initially set were only intended to launch CPATA, not to sustain long-term regulation. Significantly lower fees than those of comparable regulators were initially established, despite that fact that CPATA regulates fewer professionals than other legal services regulators. Low fees were maintained during the initial build-out phase, since CPATA had not yet gauged or incurred the full, true costs of regulating the IP profession.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to have the budget necessary to fulfil our regulatory mandate, CPATA is increasing annual license fees in 2024. The table below outlines the main changes.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Annual Licence Fee\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCurrent fee\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2024 fee\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Class 1 active patent agent <\/span>OR<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Class 1 active trademark agent\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

$1,000\u202f\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n$1,800\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Class 1 active patent <\/span>AND <\/span><\/b>trademark agent (dual licence)\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

$1,500\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n$2,700\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*NEW CONDITIONS* Class 2 restricted patent agent <\/span>OR<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202ftrademark agent\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

$100<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n$1,500\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*NEW CONDITIONS* Class 2 restricted patent <\/span>AND <\/span><\/b>trademark agent (dual licence)\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

$200<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n$2,250\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Class 3 agent-in-training, first and second years\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

$150\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n$150\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Class 3 agent-in-training, third and subsequent years\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

$200\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n$200\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*NEW* Class 4 inactive patent agent <\/span>OR<\/span><\/b>\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202ftrademark agent\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n$100\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Foreign Practitioner \u2013 maintain name in the Register for one year\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n$100<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n$180<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

More information<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CPATA\u2019s <\/span><\/b>Licence<\/span><\/b> Classes<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>Starting May 1, 2023<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Class 1 active<\/span><\/b>: an agent with a full licence who can present and prosecute before CIPO\u202f\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Class 2 restricted<\/span><\/b>: an agent who can practise as an agent but cannot present and prosecute before CIPO\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Class 3 agent-in-training<\/span><\/b>: an agent who is currently in training under the supervision of an approved Class 1 or Class 2 agent, or a representative of CIPO\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Class 4 inactive<\/span><\/b>: an agent who is not in active practice as an agent and cannot practice as an agent<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are no changes to the Class 1 active and Class 3 agent-in-training <\/span><\/b>licence<\/span><\/b> classes.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Changes to Class 2 Licences<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

CPATA\u2019s Class 2 licence was initially intended to provide an option for maintaining licensure to agents who were temporarily or permanently not practising. Data from CPATA\u2019s recent licensee survey revealed that a significant portion of class 2 licensees were involved in patent and\/or trademark practice in some capacity. Several of these IP tasks carry a risk of harm to the public, and Class 2 licensees who are providing IP services to the public were previously not required to have professional liability insurance. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As of May 1, the Class 2 licence is available for agents seeking to practise <\/span>as an agent but not to present and prosecute before CIPO. Class 2 licensees will need to obtain professional liability insurance meeting CPATA\u2019s requirements by December 31, 2023. A new Class 4 licence will address inactive licensees (see below). <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

New Class 4 Licence<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

A new Class 4 <\/span><\/span><\/span>licence<\/span><\/span><\/span> has been created for agents who are inactive<\/span><\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/span> meaning that they are<\/span><\/span><\/span> temporarily<\/span><\/span><\/span> or permanently not <\/span><\/span><\/span>practising<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Provisions for Returning to Active Practice\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Licensees may wish to temporarily switch to an inactive Class 4 licence for many reasons such as during a parental or medical leave or while undertaking employment unrelated to p<\/span><\/span><\/span>r<\/span><\/span><\/span>actising as a trademark agent or patent agent<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0The new By-laws include clear provisions for licensees who wish to return to active practice after holding a Class 4 licence or being suspended. A risk-based approach will be used to analyze each applicant’s unique situation. Those who have been inactive or suspended for more than three years may be required to undertake additional education, training or exams to counteract possible skill degradation.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Additional Changes<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Current Class 2 licensees <\/span><\/span>who w<\/span><\/span><\/span>ish<\/span><\/span><\/span> to remain inactive <\/span><\/span><\/span>will <\/span><\/span>need to change to <\/span><\/span><\/span>a <\/span><\/span><\/span>Class<\/span><\/span><\/span> 4<\/span><\/span><\/span> licence<\/span><\/span><\/span>. They will <\/span><\/span><\/span>have until December 31, <\/span>2023<\/span> to <\/span><\/span>apply for a Class 4 <\/span>licence<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0without paying fee for the class change request.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n