Here's Why It Makes Sense for Us Entities to File a Patent in Canada

While the United States and Canada are both similar in size, that similarity doesn’t apply to their respective populations. Canada’s overall population is only about 10% of the United States’ population. That fact alone may lead some to believe that there’s not much to be gained by filing a patent application in Canada. Below are some reasons why it makes sense for US-based inventors to also file a patent with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO).

A Large Export Market

A key reason why Canada remains a legitimate option for inventors is that Canada is the largest export market for the United States. The total worth of annual exports amounts to a staggering 200 billion dollars. What does that have to do with intellectual property commercialization? The exportation process to Canada from the US is a common practice. Inventors who intend to export to Canada may benefit greatly from the ownership of a Canadian patent. Those who don’t intend to export may choose to license their patents or simply sell the patent. The assistance of a patent lawyer or agent can be valuable when licensing or selling.

As a matter of fact, people have created successful businesses by finding great products that have had success in the US and are fairly likely to do well in Canada as well. If there is no corresponding patent in Canada, it is possible for a business to take advantage of this and sell a product in Canada without interference of the US patent. If a corresponding Canadian patent has been filed and issued, this can be prevented or a license agreement can be created that works to the advantage of the patent owner.

A Favorable Situation

The patent process can be time consuming and expensive. In comparison to some other countries, the government fees for filing in Canada are comparatively smaller than other countries of the same caliber. In addition, Canada does not charge for additional claim fees. US applicants are also at an advantage as a result of a more favorable currency exchange rate. Generally, the overall filing process is comparatively more expensive and complicated in the US than it is in Canada.

All this leaves us with one question: how do you get started? It’s a fair question, assuming that you are most likely not well versed with the legalities that apply to Canada. Contact us to learn more about the prospect of applying for a patent in Canada.