Jeff Leuschner publishes article on CIPO’s new patent IT system one year post-launch in IAM
Recently, Principal Jeff Leuschner wrote an article for IAM reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office’s (CIPO’s) new patent IT system, “Next Generation Patents (NGP)”, having a front-end known as “MyCIPO Patents”.
Jeff explores the significant transition from CIPO’s long-standing TechSource system, first launched in the 1990s, to the fully modern and cloud-enabled NGP platform released in July 2024. While the digital transformation was both necessary and forward-looking, the process has been challenging for the patent profession.
Jeff highlights ongoing issues such as data migration errors, processing delays and missing patent correspondence. He also notes the impact these issues have had on patent applicants and practitioners, who continue to navigate an unstable system one year after launch.
Despite the setbacks, CIPO has made efforts to allocate resources and maintain open communication with stakeholders. Jeff emphasizes that while the transition remains painful, there is measurable progress and optimism that the new system will ultimately serve Canada’s IP community well.