You need to know that the first inventor is given preference. If the competing inventor files before you, you lose the race. You will lose even if you prove that you conceived the invention first.
So, you should hurry to file Canadian patent. But do not hurry much, as you can miss essential things from application. You will have to apply again later.
You cannot publish the information regarding invention so early. You will be disqualified, if disclosure is done less than one year before filing application.
You can obtain Canadian patent protection by following these steps:
1) Preliminary search: It is a basic search. It determines whether the invention is patented before or not. It can save your time as well as money.
2) Canadian patents online database: Search biographical information of Canadian patents. You will have picture descriptions of Canadian patents since 1920. Search is done using key words.
3) Searching at patent office: You can do infringement search by visiting patent office. Canadian patent office will give you information. It will not do search for you. It holds 1.5 million patents. Documents filed before 1 Oct 1989 come under classification system. The documents after this date are searched in accordance with IPC [international patent classification] system. You can see documents on world intellectual property website. Patent search room is open on all working days from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.
Full searching of Canadian patent documents using techsource
It is an electronic patent system that gives scanned image of 1.5 million documents since 1920. It also gives image of text version after 1978. By imaging system, you see all parts of patent documents from work stations. It has a retrieval component in it. This helps to trace the patent database.
So, you have to consider many things while applying for patents. Patience and presence of mind are of critical importance.
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