First of all, I would like to sincerely thank you for inviting me to Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)'s National Funding announcement at Library and Archives Canada headquarters 2004-03-08.
During the ceremony, I noticed that speaker after speaker among the distinguished guests which included the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada, were referring to the patent documents by Alexander Graham Bell and Joseph-Armand Bombardier that were prominently displayed in the foyer.
I find it very ironic that as independent inventors, neither Bell nor Bombardier would have been eligible for CFI funding which is specifically directed at "Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and other non-profit institutions".
By definition, Canadian independent inventors are non-profit until profit is achieved. Since patents represent Novelty, Utility, and Ingenuity, I believe that Canadian independent inventors are included in statement: "Industry Canada aims to help Canadians contribute to the knowledge economy and improve productivity and innovation performance."
Here is my analysis of the upfront fees at the time of filing for a formal patent (Application + Examination) by a Small Entity. Bank of Canada Monthly Average was used for the currency exchange rate.
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is a Special Operating Agency of Industry Canada and therefore must fund its operations entirely from fees collected from clients for services.
Both the National Research Council Canada (NRC) Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program (SR&ED) specifically exclude assistance for patent fees.
Even before the CIPO's recent patent fee increase, some prominent Canadian inventors were already ignoring Canadian patents. With the draconian fee increase 2004-01-01, many will be inclined to file U.S. Patents only. However, I would like to provide a full description of the invention so that all Canadians can benefit from this advance in technology and knowledge.
I believe that a Canadian patent as Intellectual Property embodies valuable knowledge for the progress of Canadian society and economy. Therefore, I would like the CFI to consider launching a funding programme to encourage Canadian independent inventors to file Canadian patents without worrying about CIPO patent fee increases:
The Canadian Patent Fund provides CIPO patent fees for Canadian independent inventors, excluding patent agent/attorney fees. The maximum support is only about $2 400 CAD per patent during its 20-year life cycle (according to the fee schedule as of 2004-01-01).
Before rejecting my proposal, please consider the moral and ethical implications of citing the patents by inventors/innovators Bell and Bombardier as examples of great Canadian achievements, while they do not even qualify for any of the CFI programmes.
