The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) published a proposal this week to increase most governmental fees, within a couple of years, by something like 25%. Yeah, lo and behold, setting such fees in stone for decades on end doesn’t make for the most financially sound government service, what do you know?

Though we’ve grown accustomed to such fees remaining fixed in Canada (or even being slightly lowered as was the case for 2022), for years and years, CIPO is now realizing not increasing these fees over the years has turned its operations into a deficit-running operation, something that just isn’t sustainable. As a result, CIPO now has to consider a substantial increase of the fees it imposes in matters relating to I.P. protection, in Canada.

The page at issue contains a list of proposed fee increases, that include, for example in matters relating to trademarks, to give you an idea:

• Application for the registration of a trademark: from $347.35 to $434.19;
• For each additional class: from $105.26 to $131.58;
• Recording of a transfer: from $100.00 to $125.00; and
• Extension of time : from $125.00 to 150.99$.

Given this proposed increase (which in all likelihood will indeed materialize), we of course recommend to all businesses to seek to protect their I.P. assets without waiting any further.