The number of patent applications published or that entered national phase in Canada in 2011 was down slightly. Smart & Biggar, Gowlings and Norton Rose remained the top three patent firms by volume of applications for 2011. My list of patents firms by volume is now available for 2011.

The number of applications published with no agent increased slight, from 686 applications to 737 applications.

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 2011. 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 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 2011.