On July 16, 2025, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) announced significant changes to its trademark examination practices, directly affecting both the order of examination and the use of goods and services descriptions.
Elimination of accelerated examination — Since 2021, applications listing only pre-approved goods and services had been examined on an accelerated basis. CIPO has discontinued this practice; all applications will now be placed in the same examination queue, with time to first examination expected to decrease to approximately 9 months.
Background — Examination timelines had increased significantly following Canada’s accession to the Madrid System and the removal of the “use” requirement. By early 2024, wait times exceeded 1,700 days — nearly five years.
Formal process for proposing goods and services — Applicants may now submit proposed goods/services for inclusion in the Manual; CIPO will respond within 4 weeks.
Practical impact — With accelerated examination removed, applicants may choose more tailored descriptions rather than relying exclusively on pre-approved terms — though pre-approved terms are still less likely to attract objections. An application with only pre-approved terms and no objections could proceed to registration in approximately one year.
