Intellectual Property: The IP Centre of Excellence (IPCOE)
The IP Centre of Excellence (IPCOE) provides advice and guidance to support employees. We can help guide you on how best to identify, manage, acquire, protect and deploy intellectual property (IP), based on the objectives of ESDC’s Intellectual Property Management Policy. If you have questions or need advice related to IP, contact us.
ESDC provides a wide range of programs and services to Canadians. This often creates and/or requires the use of IP.
Projects that often raise IP risks and opportunities include:
- Collaborations (such as innovation partnerships, or other cases where ESDC works together with other government and non-governmental organizations or universities)
- Procurement contracts (such as when ESDC purchases management consulting or research services)
- Work involving multimedia (e.g. images, photos and/or videos)
IP is a Crown asset. All employees are responsible to identify, acquire, manage, protect and deploy IP in ways that comply with federal and Departmental rules, fulfil Departmental objectives and preserve value while resulting in the optimal benefit to Canadians.
The IPCOE is also responsible to develop the Department’s policies, guidelines and procedures about IP, and to provide training to managers and employees about IP.
Learn more about IP: Key resources
- Job Aids Intellectual Property (IP) New
- ESDC IP Management Policy
- Frequently Asked Questions about IP
- Overview presentation: IP Management at ESDC (PPTX, 710 KB)
- Contact us to arrange an in-person information session!
- IP Reports (annual reports on IP at ESDC)
- List of ESDC official marks
How to…
- Share IP with third parties (DOCX, 21 KB)
- Decide on IP Ownership
- For contracts that produce new IP: complete the required form (DOCX, 28 KB)
- For contracts: document the requirement file
- Respond to IP infringement (enforce IP rights)
- Create and maintain an official mark
- For Grants & Contributions and Transfer Payment Agreements: document the file
- Do a reverse image search (useful link if you need to locate the original source of your existing images/graphics/photos)
Other resources
- ESDC Code of Conduct
- Publishing and Multimedia Services (Creative Services, PASRB)
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), a Special Operating Agency associated with Industry Canada
- CIPO Glossary
Federal IP laws and regulations
- Copyright Act and Regulations
- Trademarks Act and Regulations
- Financial Administration Act (FAA)
- Public Servants Inventions Act and Regulations
- Patent Act and Rules
- Industrial Design Act and Regulations
- Status of the Artist Act and Professional Category Regulations