Announcements from Patent Offices (COVID-19)

World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO)

WIPO issued statements concerning their continuation of IP services, saying that they have moved to an almost entirely virtual work presence and that they are fully functional. An operational dashboard has been made available.

There are separate statements for the users of the

• Patent Cooperation Treaty and March issue of the PCT Newsletter
• Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks
• Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs
• Lisbon System for the International Registration of Geographical Indications
• Arbitration and Mediation and Domain Names

In addition, WIPO implemented a COVID-19 IP Policy Tracker which covers initially (May 5, 2020) 18 patent offices with information on measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the extension of deadlines, operational, legislative and regulatory changes.

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

USPTO notices and updates during COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
https://www.uspto.gov/coronavirus

The USPTO announced extensions to the time allowed to file certain patent and trademark-related documents and to pay certain required fees. These actions are an exercise of temporary authority provided to the USPTO by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) signed by President Trump on March 27.
Read the press release for more information.

European Patent Office (EPO)

The EPO website presents continually updated information for customers, external partners and potential visitors to the EPO. Chapters include

• Events
• Oral Proceedings before the Boards of Appeal
• Remedies in case of non-observance of time limits
• EQE
• External partners
• Staff working from home

https://www.epo.org/news-issues/covid-19.html

Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)

Detailed information on CNIPA´s measures in English can be found on WIPO´s website.
CNIPA published a note in English about trademarks.

Japan Patent Office (JPO)

The JPO announced that it remains open for all procedures, including electronic filings.

https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/news/koho/covid19.html .

A note dated April 6, 2020 describes the handling of procedures and terms as affected by the corona situation.

Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)

KIPO announced support measures for applicants affected by Covid-19 and issued an Official Notice of ex-officio extension for designated periods due to the effects of the COVID-19

Deutsches Patent und Markenamt (DPMA), German Patent and Trademark Office

On this page you find current information of the DPMA in connection with the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) for customers, external partners and potential visitors:
https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/publications/news/corona/index.html
It includes a Notice concerning delays in IP procedures and time limits (18 March 2020).

Eidgenössischen Institut für Geistiges Eigentum (IGE), Swiss Intellectual Property Office

IGE provides  detailed information for customers about all their measures we have implemented in response to the current extraordinary situation.Those measures include the suspension of procedural time limits.

Österreichisches Patentamt, Austrian Patent Office

The Austrian patent office asks customers to use ist online services at
www. Patentamt.at/online-services. All filings or correspondence by mail are not being processed for the time being. All terms and deadlines are suspended until at least April 30, 2020. Details can be found in this note (in German).

Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI), French Intellectual Property Office

INPI provides the French government order delaying all deadlines, with effect on French patent procedures:
https://www.inpi.fr/fr/report-de-delais-lie-la-crise-sanitaire

UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO)

The UK IPO announced a number of measures in order to support businesses, rights holders and IP professionals during the coronavirus situation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-important-update-on-ipo-services

Oficina Espanola de Patentes y Marcas (OEPM), Spanish Patent and Trademark Office

Information in Spanish at https://www.oepm.es/en/sobre_oepm/noticias/2020/2020_03_25_Resolucion_Disposicion_Adicional_tercera.html

Ufficio Italiano Brevetti e Marchi (UIBM), Italian Patent and Trademark Office

UIBM informs about the suspension of all terms of administrative procedures and extension of the validity of expiring documents.
In addition, UIBM provides a comprehensive list of links to corona virus related pages of more than 40 national and regional offices:

Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP)

Online services are available, terms and deadlines are postponed.

Netherlands Patent Office

As a result of corona crisis measures, the services of the Netherlands Patent Office have been adjusted. The consequences for patent applicants and patent holders are described in a note from the office .

Danish Patent and Trademark Office

DKPTO announced it is operating as normal with the exception of physical meetings. Due dates in relation to existing IP-rights will not be affected.

For details, see https://www.dkpto.org/covid-19-information/

Patent- och registreringsverket (PRV), Swedish patent office

PRV informs in a note how to extend time limits and encourages use of their online system.

Finnish Patent and Registration Office, PRH

PRH informs about effects on their services and on customers including deadlines.

Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO)

NIPO informs about their services under the current circumstances and about term extensions.

Patent Office of the Republic of Poland

The Polish Patent Office informs about a so-called anti-crisis shield and consequences for deadlines and proceedings in a note in Polish.

Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (HIPO)

HIPO issued a message about emergency measure in English on March 17, 2020.

A note from April 3, 2020 informs about term extensions until May 4.

Ukrainian Intellectual Property Institute (UKRPATENT)

The Institute issued a note in English about reduced operations due to the coronavirus crisis.

Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TURKPATENT)

The Turkish PTO announced the suspension of all time limits expiring on or after 13 March 2020 until April 30 (for the time being).

Israel Patent Office (ILPO)

ILPO issued a note in English about their operations during the coronacrisis including the extension of terms.

The Israel Patent Office gives applications concerning the fight against the coronavirus priority handling. See note in Hebrew.

Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)

CIPO announced possible service delays and interruptions and has extended time limits:
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr04767.html

On this page you find

• Changes to services and operations
• Actions you can take until services and operations return to normal
• International filing
• Latest service interruption notices
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
• COVID-19 resources

Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI), Mexican Institute of Industrial Property

IMPI announced suspension of some of their services (in Spanish only

Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI)

INPI issued a note in Portuguese announcing the suspension of all terms from March 16 until at least April 30, 2020:

http://www.inpi.gov.br/noticias/inpi-prorroga-suspensao-de-prazos-ate-30-de-abril/view

Additional information, see this link.

IP Australia (IPA)

IPA published a „we are open for business“ message including a note on Extensions of Time for Patents, Trade Marks and Designs March 19, 2020, updated on April 9.

Intellectual Property India

IP India published a note on the extension of deadlines.

Patent Office of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC)

GCC issued a note announcing the continuation of all procedures relating to the processing of patent applications to be remotely delt with through their „Hemayah“ platform, as well as the extension of time limits.

Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)

IPOS issued a note describing their relief measures including extension of deadlines. Their e-filing services will continue to operate.

Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO)

TIPO explains in a note that patent and trademark applicants may ask for reinstatement if failing to comply within a statutory time period due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong

A news informs about the effects of the corona situation on the department´s services.

Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP)

A statement in Indonesian explains the operations during the crisis and informs about term extensions.

https://dgip.go.id/images/humas/Images/Pengumuman-perpanjangan-penutupan-Loket-Layanan-Kekayaan-Intelektual-revisi.pdf-1.pdf

Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), South Africa

CIPC reduced their services due to the national lockdown in South Africa that started on March 24, 2020 and shall last until April, 30, 2020. Limited electronic services are available as of April 1, 2020.

Further notices may be found here: http://www.cipc.co.za/index.php/notices

Russian Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS), Russian Patent Office

There are no announcements by the Russian Patent Office about the “non-working days” in Russia (until April 30, 2020). See notes of the Eurasian Patent Organization below.

Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO, https://www.eapo.org/en/)

EAPO issued notes in Russian about “non-working days” in Russia from March 30, 2020 to April 03, 2020 and related delays of terms. The period of “non-working” days has meanwhile been extended to April 30, 2020.
EAPO will accept Eurasian applications and other correspondence regarding Eurasian applications and Eurasian patents filed using the EAPO-ONLINE system, as well as by e-mail [email protected] and via the electronic document upload service to the EAPO FTP server (for documents larger than 10 MB).