how to be a patent attorney in us and canada

by Kenneth Bogisich 10 min read

Most patent agents obtain a law degree and register to legally practice in their state, which qualifies them as a patent lawyer. You can use the terms patent agent and patent lawyer interchangeably after receiving the law degree.

Full Answer

How do I become a patent attorney in Canada?

Aug 19, 2019 · Complete Law School (3.5 years) Preparing for and passing the patent bar exam (6 months) If you don’t waste any time, complete your coursework on time, and don’t take any time off, you will be able to become a patent attorney within 9 years. The 9-year figure assumes that you haven’t begun your college degree.

Can a Canadian patent be filed in the United States?

Oct 20, 2021 · Patent lawyers are required to complete a law program from an accredited law school and pass a state bar exam. If a patent lawyer would like to represent inventors in front of the USPTO, then he or she must sit for and pass the USPTO licensing exam, which is commonly known as the 'patent bar.'

How do I become a patent agent?

Assuming you qualify to become a patent agent (e.g., you have already a degree in science or engineering), and you study seriously for 3–4 months, with all the delays, etc, you could be a Patent agent in about 6 months. In the US, you can take the test any time you are ready.

Can you work as a patent agent without a law degree?

How to become a patent attorney in the US. To become a registered patent attorney in the US, you must meet the following requirements: Be admitted to practice law in at least one state in the US territories. Have an adequate technical and scientific background so that you are able to fully understand your clients’ inventions.

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Can a US patent agent work in Canada?

Canadian patent agents registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) can directly file U.S. patents for Canadian applicants. ... These agents have acquired a wealth of experience before the USPTO representing their Canadian clients at all stages of the patent application process.

How do I become a patent attorney in Canada?

To become a registered patent agent in Canada you will need to:Complete a series of four qualifying exams in a span of four days.Before you can register for the examination you must have at least 24 months' practical experience in the area of patent law and practice, with at least 12 of those months worked in Canada.

How much do patent attorneys make in Canada?

Patent Attorney Salary in OntarioAnnual SalaryMonthly PayTop Earners$196,000$16,33375th Percentile$172,500$14,375Average$121,099$10,09125th Percentile$91,000$7,583

How do I become an international patent lawyer?

Here are six steps to become a patent attorney:Earn a science or engineering degree. ... Take the LSAT. ... Attend law school. ... Pass the state bar exam. ... Pass patent bar and register with USPTO. ... Consider additional specialized education.Jul 23, 2021

How do I become a patent trainee in Canada?

To become a certified patent agent, no particular training is officially required. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), however, requires at least 24 months experience under the supervision of a certified patent agent before being able to pass the federal examination.Apr 9, 2019

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaPatent attorney: $180,000.Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.Trial attorneys: $134,000.Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.More items...•Dec 14, 2021

How much does a lawyer make in Canada?

The average lawyer salary in Canada is $100,000 per year or $51.28 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $75,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $138,250 per year.

How much do intellectual property lawyers make in Canada?

Salary Recap The average pay for an Intellectual Property Attorney is $162,004 a year and $78 an hour in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. The average salary range for an Intellectual Property Attorney is between $111,741 and $202,057.

Do I need a Masters to be a patent attorney?

Yes. However, you do not need a law degree to become a patent attorney. ... The role of a patent attorney involves advising clients on those areas of law applicable to intellectual property.

How do you become a US patent agent?

How to become a patent agentEarn your bachelor's degree. After graduating from college, you must enroll in a science or technology bachelor's degree program. ... Pass the Law School Admission Test. ... Apply to law school. ... Take the state patent bar exam. ... Submit all documents and pay necessary fees.Mar 15, 2021

Is patent law stressful?

The Journey. This is perhaps the most stress-inducing and challenging part of a career in patent law, but that is true for any job in the field of law. They all require time, energy, and dedication to get there. ... Many people have found that starting as a patent agent and working their way up is the best path.Jun 29, 2021

What is a patent attorney?

Patent attorneys are intellectual property attorneys who are responsible for writing and filing patent applications. It is also their duty to protect the rights of their clients, the inventors and their patents, before organisations such as Patent and Trademark Offices (PTO).

How to contact Baxter IP?

If you want to start an exciting, lucrative career as a patent attorney at Baxter IP, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, please email your cover letter & CV to [email protected] or call us at +61 2 9264 6716 and we look forward to catching up over coffee.

Is patent attorney a good career?

Despite having a traditionally quite narrow scope of work, being a patent attorney has excellent career prospects. As in every profession, it is always challenging for a new trainee to gain a foothold in the profession.

What are the responsibilities of a patent attorney?

The responsibilities of a patent attorney are to: Write detailed technical / engineering / scientific descriptions of inventions using very exact language in the proper formats. Write patent claims to define the legal scope and variations of the monopoly conferred by the patent when it is granted.

What is a final rejection in Canada?

Unlike in the United States where second Office actions are typically labelled as “final” rejections, final rejections in Canada are rare. Canadian Examiners will continue to send out new reports and permit amendments / arguments to be made at no cost as long as the Examiner feels progress toward allowance is being made. Only in the event of a total impasse or a specific request by the applicant will a final rejection be made by a Canadian Examiner.

How long does it take to disclose a patent in Canada?

Canadian patent law permits inventors to publicly disclose their invention up to one year prior to filing for a patent in Canada. Any public disclosures by the inventor, or by any other person who obtained knowledge either directly or indirectly from the inventor, cannot be used to reject a Canadian patent application under anticipation or obviousness as long as the public disclosure was within one year of the Canadian application’s filing date. PCT international patent applications are considered to be Canadian applications if the national phase is entered in Canada.

When are maintenance fees required in Canada?

Annual maintenance fees are required for all applications and issued patents in Canada starting on the 2nd anniversary of the Canadian filing date. This differs from US practice where maintenance fees are only required for issued patents by the 4th, 8th, and 12th years after the patent issue date.

What are the two types of patents in Canada?

There are two types of patent applications in Canada: regular patent applications (which include PCT applications that have entered the national phase in Canada), and divisional applications (which have the same description and figures as their parent application but claim a different invention).

How long is the PCT application deadline in Canada?

Although, the on-time PCT national entry deadline for Canada is thirty (30) months from the earliest priority date, for PCT applications with a filing date before Oct. 30, 2019, late entry can be done up to 42 months from the earliest priority date by the mere payment of an additional $200 CAD late fee.

How many employees does a small entity need to be to qualify for CIPO?

In Canada, the small entity requirements require the applicant to be an entity that employs fifty (50) or fewer employees or that is a university. This differs from small entity in the United States where the limit is five-hundred (500) employees or a university.

What is a divisional application?

Any divisional application should be initiated at the request of CIPO (not voluntarily by the applicant), thereby reducing the risk of the divisional patent being invalidated on the grounds of double patenting.

What is the Madrid Protocol?

Madrid Protocol (international trademark applications ) A trademark owner may be able to use its USPTO trademark application or registration as the basis for obtaining trademark protection in Canada through the Madrid Protocol. Visit WIPO to file an international application. (link is external) . For more information, see ...

How long does it take to file a patent claim?

filing date. A claim for benefit of a patent application must be made within 12 months of the U.S. filing date. See CIPO's Requests for Priority. (link is external)

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Grace Period – 1 Year from Canadian Filing Date, Not Priority Date

  • Canadian patent law permits inventors to publicly disclose their invention up to one year prior to filing for a patent in Canada. Any public disclosures by the inventor, or by any other person who obtained knowledge either directly or indirectly from the inventor, cannot be used to reject a Canadian patent application under anticipation or obviousness as long as the public disclosure …
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Examination – only Upon Request

  • The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) will only examine a patent application in Canada in response to a specific request for examination. The examination fee is payable upon request, and the request can be deferred up to four (4) years from the Canadian application’s filing date for applications filed on or after Oct. 30, 2019 and for up to five (5) years for applications filed prior …
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Obviousness Rejections – only Based on Published References

  • In Canada, Examiners are not permitted to make obviousness rejections based on secret references that were not published at the time of the effective date of the claim under examination. In other words, as long as there is at least one specific difference in the claimed subject matter with the prior art, the Examiner can only allege the difference would have been ob…
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Continuing Applications – Must Be A True “Divisional”

  • There are two types of patent applications in Canada: regular patent applications (which include PCT applications that have entered the national phase in Canada), and divisional applications (which have the same description and figures as their parent application but claim a different invention). Unlike in the United States, there are no continuation or continuation-in-part applicati…
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Claims – No Excess Or Multiple Dependent Fees

  • A Canadian patent application can have any number of claims. There are no extra fees required and “multiple dependent” claims are permitted even when based on other multiple dependent claims. This differs from the US were extra fees are required for each claim in excess of twenty, for each independent claim in excess of three, and when the claims include multi-dependencies.
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Reinstatement After Abandonment – Within 1 Year

  • If a Canadian patent application is abandoned because of the applicant’s failure to take some action, reinstatement is possible for one (1) year from the date of abandonment. To reinstate the application, the applicant needs to request reinstatement, pay a $200 CAD reinstatement fee, and take whatever action that should have been taken to avoid the abandonment in the first place. F…
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Maintenance Fees – Annual, from 2nd Anniversary of Filing Date

  • Annual maintenance fees are required for all applications and issued patents in Canada starting on the 2nd anniversary of the Canadian filing date. This differs from US practice where maintenance fees are only required for issued patents by the 4th, 8th, and 12th years after the patent issue date. Any person authorized by the applicant or patentee may pay maintenance fee…
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Late Pct National Entry – 42 Months from Priority

  • Although, the on-time PCT national entry deadline for Canada is thirty (30) months from the earliest priority date, for PCT applications with a filing date before Oct. 30, 2019, late entry can be done up to 42 months from the earliest priority date by the mere payment of an additional $200 CAD late fee. This nominal fee is all that is required for late entry and the applicant does not nee…
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Small Entity Discounts – For Companies Up to 50 Employees

  • Many of the government fees charged by CIPO are reduced by one half for applicants that qualify as a small entity. In Canada, the small entity requirements require the applicant to be an entity that employs fifty (50) or fewer employees or that is a university. This differs from small entity in the United States where the limit is five-hundred (500) employees or a university. Furthermore, smal…
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Other Differences Between Canadian and Us Patent Regimes

  • The above-described differences are not the only ways the Canadian and US patent systems differ from one another. Other differences include: 1. No IDS / duty of disclosure obligations in Canada, the applicant only needs to submit documents specifically requisitioned by the Canadian Examiner (unlike in the US where all known references material to patentability must be reported…
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