The number of patent applications published in 2012 or that entered national phase in Canada in 2012 was down slightly from 2011 at about 33,874. Smart & Biggar, Gowlings and BLG top the list of firms by volume of applications for 2012.

The number of applications published with no agent decreased slight, from 737 applications to 680 applications, approximately the same level as in 2011.

Because patent applications are not typically published for 18 months after they are filed, the data used for this report is based on applications published in 2012. Many of these applications will have been filed 18 months earlier, perhaps as early as 2009. For national phase entry applications, these are typically published shortly after entry into Canada but may have an international filing date 30 or even 42 months earlier.

I posted a similar list of trademark firms/agents for trademark applications filed in 2012.

Please let me know of any errors or inconsistencies you notice in the data.