About the Patent Appeal Board

The Patent Appeal Board is an advisory body made up of senior Patent Office officials.
In carrying out his duties, the Commissioner of Patents makes decisions that are quasi-
judicial in nature. Since 1970 the Board has been mandated by the Commissioner to
conduct independent reviews, provide recommendations and advise him when making
such quasi-judicial decisions which principally concern the review of rejected
applications, the review of rejected applications for the reissue of a patent, and
determinations of first inventorship in patent conflict situations.
The Board is also responsible for advising in respect of patent policy matters and
assisting the Commissioner in performing a number of other duties such as the
administration of patent re-examination procedures, settling the terms and conditions for
use of patented inventions by governments, granting authorizations under Canada's
Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), the administration of the procedures related to
an alleged abuse of patent rights, the administration of the annual Patent Agent and
Trademark Agent Examinations, and in dealing with complaints of misconduct by patent
agents.
Table of Contents

Reviewing examiners' rejections of applications

Chairing re-examination boards
Determining the first inventor in conflict situations
Reviewing rejections of re-issue applications
Administering procedures under Canadas Access to Medicines Regime
Administering procedures in cases of alleged abuse of patents
Advising government departments regarding the Public Servants Inventions Act
Settling terms and conditions for use of patented inventions by government
Dealing with complaints in regard to Registered Patent Agents
Administering the Patent Agent and Trademark Agent Qualifying Examinations

Reviewing examiners' rejections of applications

One of the principal functions of members of the Patent Appeal Board is to provide an
appeal process when a patent or industrial design examiner rejects an application
during the prosecution before the Office. The function of the Board is to carry out an
independent review, advise the Commissioner of its findings, and make
recommendations to him for disposal of the application.

Reviewing examiners' rejections of patent applications

The Patent Appeal Board reviews patent applications rejected by patent examiners in
situations where the applicant's response to the Final Action does not, in the examiner's
opinion, place the application in condition for allowance. The review occurs only after
the time limit for responding to the Final Action has expired. In order to make an
independent determination, members of the Board must not have participated in the
prosecution of the application, or have previously advised in respect thereto.
In cases of rejected applications, the Board will conduct an oral hearing (if requested by
the applicant), during which the applicant is given the opportunity of presenting oral and
written submissions in favour of its position. After the hearing, the Board considers the
applicant's submissions and the file record and makes a recommendation, including
reasons therefore, for consideration by the Commissioner of Patents. If the applicant
requests no hearing, then the Board proceeds to make a recommendation based solely
on the file record before it.

Reviewing examiners' rejections of industrial design

applications
The Patent Appeal Board performs a review in the case of a Final Report by an
industrial design examiner. Authority to refuse an industrial design application rests in
the Minister, who has delegated this authority to the Commissioner, who in turn relies
on the Board to review the prosecution, conduct a hearing and make a recommendation
for the Commissioner, to either accept or refuse to register an industrial design (See:
Notice to the Patent Profession C.P.O.R., July 2, 1974, 15 C.P.R. (2d) 197).

Chairing re-examination boards

Administering the process under the Patent Act when it is requested that a patent
be re-examined on the basis of prior art
Under the Patent Act the claims of any patent granted after October 1, 1989, may be
subject to re-examination upon request of any person on the basis of prior art consisting
of patents, applications for patents open to public inspection, and printed publications,
with payment of the prescribed fee. The request must raise a substantial new question
of patentability.
The Commissioner is responsible for establishing a re-examination board, of no less
than three persons, usually comprising one member of the Patent Appeal Board to act
as chairperson and two senior examiners who were not involved in the prosecution of
the application. Once appointed by the Commissioner, the re-examination board has the
authority to make any and all determinations with respect to re-examination. If the re-
examination board determines that the request does not raise a substantial new
question of patentability, the requester is notified and no appeal or review is permitted.
The requester does not take part in the re-examination process unless the requester is
also the patentee.
Subsequent to the above determination, a re-examination board has the power to
cancel claims, confirm claims, or add new claims, submitted by the patentee, to a patent
as result of the re-examination process.. The decision of the re-examination board, as
set out in a certificate of re-examination, is subject to appeal by the patentee to the
Federal Court.

Determining the first inventor in conflict

situations
For patent applications filed before October 1, 1989, in situations where two or more
applicants for a patent claim the same invention (or where one of the applicants
discloses, but does not claim the same invention) the patent is granted to the inventor
who is found to have been the first to invent the invention, as opposed to the applicant
who first filed a patent application for the invention.
Section 43 of the pre-1989 Act applies in such cases and the Patent Appeal Board
examines the affidavits and supporting evidence submitted by the conflicting applicants
and drafts a proposed decision for the Commissioner of Patents as to which applicant is
deemed to be the first inventor. The contested claims are allowed or rejected in
accordance with the Commissioner's decision unless one of the applicants commences
proceedings in the Federal Court for the determination of their respective rights.

Reviewing rejections of re-issue applications

The Patent Appeal Board reviews rejections of applications for reissue under section 47
of the Patent Act, a method of issuing a new patent containing an amended description
and specification for the same invention found in an issued, yet defective, original
patent. The Board makes a recommendation to the Commissioner as to whether or not
the application for reissue and the amended specification comply with the reissue
requirements. Likewise, if such an application is rejected for non-compliance with the
Patent Act and Rules for other reasons, the Board must also review such objections.
The opportunity for an oral hearing exists for these cases as well.

Administering procedures under Canadas

Access to Medicines Regime
Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), the legislative and regulatory
framework comprising amendments to the Patent Act and the Food and Drugs Act, as
well as the Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes
Regulations, authorizes the export of patented medicines in order to facilitate the
provision of pharmaceutical products to developing nations facing public health crises
such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
The relevant authorities in the Patent Act are sections 21.01 to 21.2, which set forth the
conditions under which an authorization is given in order to allow a manufacturer to use
a patented invention in order to make and export a drug or device.
The Patent Appeal Board is responsible for administering the authorization and
attendant procedures under the Act on behalf of the Commissioner. In this capacity, the
Board is responsible for the following duties:

1. Posting applications for authorization under CAMR on CIPO's website within

seven days of receipt;
2. Reviewing applications for authorizations to applicants and recommending
approval by the Commissioner of Patents if the applications meet all the relevant
requirements;
3. Posting and maintaining a link to the authorization holders' websites; and
4. Reviewing applications for renewals of authorizations and recommending
approval by the Commissioner of Patents if the application meet all the relevant
requirements.

For details or obtaining authorization in Canada, visit Use of Patents for International
Humanitarian Purposes to Address Public Health Problems (Canada's Access to
Medicines Regime)

Administering procedures in cases of alleged

abuse of patents
When it is alleged that a patentee has abused its patent rights as set out in section 65 of
the Patent Act, an interested person may apply to the Commissioner of Patents and ask
for relief. In such cases, the patentee is given the opportunity to oppose the application
for relief by filing a counter statement. A hearing may be requested by any of the parties
or the Commissioner may require a hearing. The Commissioner may also refer the
proceedings to the Federal Court with the consent of the interested parties, or if
prolonged examination is required that cannot be completed before him. In the latter
case, Ministerial approval is required.
The Patent Appeal Board has the responsibility for administering the procedures leading
to a hearing and rendering a decision whereby the Commissioner may grant a
compulsory licence in an appropriate case. In exceptional circumstances, the
Commissioner can order that a patent be revoked.

Advising government departments regarding

the Public Servants Inventions Act
In regard to questions concerning the application of the Public Servants Invention Act,
the Patent Appeal Board plays an advisory role, offering information and guidance to
other government departments in cases concerning inventions made by public servants.
Under section 3 of the PSIA, inventions made by public servants in connection with their
duties, or made with the facilities, equipment, or financial aid of the government, belong
to the government.
Under section 4.(1) of the PSIA, every public servant who makes an invention must:

1. inform the appropriate Minister of the invention;

2. not file for a patent outside of Canada without Ministerial consent; and
3. disclose in any patent application that he/she is a public servant.

Under subsection 4(2) of the PSIA, the Commissioner of Patents has a duty to inform
the appropriate Minister if he believes that a public servant has filed an application for
patent.

Settling terms and conditions for use of patented

inventions by government
The Government of Canada or the government of a province may apply to the
Commissioner seeking authority to use a patented invention. This may only occur after
the government has made an effort to obtain a license from the patentee on reasonable
terms and conditions, where these efforts have not been successful with a reasonable
period. However, under section 19.1(2) of the Patent Act, such negotiation is not
necessary in cases of national emergency or extreme urgency or where the intended
use is a public non-commercial use.
The Patent Appeal Board, on behalf of the Commissioner, administers the procedures
involved in setting the terms and amount payable to the patentee. The Commissioner
has exclusive authority to set the amount of compensation to be paid to the patentee.
The Commissioner may also, on application by the patentee, terminate the authorization
if satisfied that the conditions warranting its grant no longer exist, and are unlikely to
recur.
Sections 19, 19.1 and 19.2 are the relevant authorities in the Patent Act. Any such
decision of the Commissioner is subject to appeal to the Federal Court under section
19.2 of the Patent Act.
In situations involving the use of a patented invention by a government contractor in the
performance of a defense contract, section 22 of the Defense Production Act applies.
Again, the Board will advise the Commissioner in his role of setting the compensation
for use of a patented invention when the patentee and the government cannot reach an
agreement.
Dealing with complaints in regard to Registered
Patent Agents
Section 16 of the Patent Act gives the Commissioner authority to refuse to recognize
any person, either generally or in any particular case, as a patent agent or attorney
entitled to represent applicants in the presentation and prosecution of applications for
patents, or in other business before the Patent Office, in cases of gross misconduct, or
for any other cause that he may deem sufficient.
In regard to such cases the Patent Appeal Board receives any complaints concerning
alleged misconduct by a registered agent, conducts a review of the matter, and makes
recommendations to the Commissioner concerning any action to be taken. Sections 18
and 19 of the Patent Rules also apply.

Administering the Patent Agent and Trademark

Agent qualifying Examinations
Section 15 of the Patent Act and section 28 of the Trade-marks Act establish a
profession of patent agents and trademark agents, respectively, comprised of people
who are deemed qualified to prosecute patent or trademarkapplications before the
appropriate office. For the patent agent qualifying examination, the Commissioner of
Patents appoints the members of the Examining Board, of which the Chairperson and at
least three other members are employees of the Patent Office, with at least five
members being patent agents nominated by the Intellectual Property Institute of
Canada. The Examining Board is responsible for preparing and marking the qualifying
examination. The Patent Appeal Board administers a qualifying examination at least
once a year, which allows candidates who have passed to be placed on the register of
patent agents.
For the trademark agent qualifying examination, the Registrar of Trademarks appoints
the members of an Examining Board as well, of which at least two members shall
be trademark agents nominated by the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. This
Board is responsible for setting and marking the qualifying examination. The Patent
Appeal Board is also responsible for all the administrative aspects of this exam.

Rules 12 to 14 are the relevant authorities in the Patent Rules.

Rules 18 to 20 are the relevant authorities in the Trade-marks Regulations.

Date modified:
2015-06-16