Guide
Canadian Patents & Intellectual Property
Every Canadian patent, trademark, industrial design and registered copyright is public and searchable free through the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, part of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. The Canadian Patents Database runs from 1869 to the present and shows the full text and drawings of granted patents and of applications, which are published 18 months after filing. A Canadian patent lasts 20 years from filing and the maintenance fees paid on it appear in the record, so the database also shows which patents have lapsed.
Canadian filings also appear in the World Intellectual Property Organization's Patentscope and in Google Patents, and an inventor searching for prior art usually checks the United States Patent and Trademark Office as well because most Canadian inventions are filed there too.
Official sources on this page were checked on September 25, 2026.
Guide
The CIPO databases
The patents database is searched by keyword, inventor, owner, patent number or classification, and each record links to the file wrapper of correspondence. The trademarks database shows every application and registration with the owner, the goods and services and the status, and it is the first stop before choosing a business name. The industrial designs database covers the appearance of products, and the copyright database lists voluntary registrations. CIPO also keeps the register of patent and trademark agents licensed to file in Canada.
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International and business searches
Patentscope from the World Intellectual Property Organization searches applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty and the national collections of many countries, including Canada, in one place. Google Patents covers the same ground with a simpler interface. The owner of a Canadian patent is usually a company, and the federal and provincial corporate registries show who stands behind it.
Guide
Official resources
Straight answers
Common questions about Canadian patents and trademarks
Are Canadian patents public?
Yes. The Canadian Patents Database at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office is free and shows the full text and drawings of granted patents and of applications published 18 months after filing, back to 1869.
How do I check if a business name is trademarked in Canada?
Search the Canadian trademarks database at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, which shows every application and registration with the owner, the goods and services and the current status.
How long does a Canadian patent last?
Twenty years from the filing date, as long as the annual maintenance fees are paid. The database record shows the fee history and whether the patent has lapsed.