Proposed changes to the Patent Rules, published in the October 2nd edition of the Canada Gazette would allow ‘green tech’ patent applications to be given accelerated examination at the request of the applicant. Changes would also require ‘Special Order’ applications to be put back into the regular stream if the applications go abandoned or an extension of time is requested.

Amendments to the Patent Rules announced last year go into force on October 1, 2010. These rules primarily relate to completion requirements and removing the necessity for declarations of entitlement but also include some minor changes for clarity.