Patents
Covid-19: Organisation of Intellectual Property Offices
[Last update: 16/07/2020]
In this context of sanitary crisis and following guidance from governments, Intellectual Property Offices have taken measures in order to maintain protection of Intellectual Property Rights.
| France (INPI) | All due dates falling between 12 March and 23 June included are extended by one month after the end of this period if the initial deadline was one month (i.e. 23 July) and by two months after the end of this period if the initial period was two months or more (i.e. 23 August). This extension applies, in particular, to deadlines for trademark oppositions, patent annuity payments, trademark renewals or design extensions and for benefiting from the relevant grace period, filing an administrative or court appeal, submitting third parties’ observations or responding to a notification from the INPI. On the other hand, this does not affect priority deadlines for international extensions, payment deadlines for patent applications or deadlines for filing a supplementary protection certificate. |
| EUIPO | End of extension period as of 18 May 2020. However, users facing difficulties due to the covid-19 outbreak in meeting deadlines can request extensions in certain circumstances. |
| WIPO | Processing of filed applications remains operational. Remedies available in case of failure to meet time limits due to the pandemic and extension of time limits in case of Office closures. Suspension of all communication by postal mail until further notice, all PCT-related documents will be transmitted only via e-mail. |
| AIPO | Suspension of procedural deadlines expiring between 18 March - 31 May 2020 inclusive until 15 July 2020. |
| Andorra | All deadlines for administrative procedures are suspended for a maximum time of 2 months. Prescription and expiration deadlines are suspended. However, procedures that are essential to trademark owners are carried out. |
| Argentina | Extension of the suspension of all administrative terms until 17 July 2020.. |
| Australia | Office remains operational. From 22 April 2020 until at least 31 May 2020, those impacted by COVID-19 can obtain an extension-of-time of up to 3 months free of charge for Patent, Trade Marks and Designs requests. However, these extensions are not available for renewal/maintenance/continuation fees, although the 6 months grace period is available. |
| Benelux | Suspension of deadlines during the period of public restrictions imposed by the Benelux countries, and thereafter, grant of a month’s grace period. |
| Canada | Most deadlines that fall between 16 March 2020 and 7 August 2020 are extended until 10 August 2020. |
| Djibouti | All operations suspended until further notice and deadlines to be met during this period will be automatically extended until the Office reopens for business. |
| Ethiopia | Suspension of operations until further notice. All deadlines falling during the shutdown have been extended to 19 July 2020. |
| Finland | Reopening of the Office on 3 August 2020. |
| Gaza | All operations suspended until further notice and deadlines to be met during this period will be automatically extended until the Office reopens for business |
| Greece | Office closed until further notice. Deadlines are extended until the Office reopens. |
| Guatemala | Re-Opening of the Office. Suspension of legal terms. |
| Honduras | Office closed. Online filing system available. All deadlines are in suspension. |
| India | All deadlines are extended until further notice. |
| Indonesia | Office closed until further notice. Applications may be submitted via online filing system. |
| Lebanon | Suspension of all delays between 18 October 2019 and 30 July 2020 |
| Mexico | Reopening of the Office and all deadlines resume on 13 July 2020. |
| Netherlands | Office closed, but available via online services. Patent applicants can request for an extension of time or restoration of rights. |
| New Zealand | Office remains operational. Requests for extension of time may be available for deadlines missed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. |
| Norway | Office closed but available via online services. Deadline extensions for "at least two months" granted for designs and trademarks. Requests for re-establishment of rights may be available for failure to meet a specific deadline or loses registered rights during this period. |
| Oman | All operations suspended until further notice and deadlines to be met during this period will be automatically extended until the Office reopens for business. |
| Panama | Office closed until further notice. |
| Qatar | Suspension of legal deadlines (and related penalties) from 5 April until further notice. However, this suspension is not applicable "to annuities, examination and grant fees for patents which are paid online". |
| Russia | Deadlines falling on the period between 30 March 2020 and 30 November 2020 will be extended to 31 December 2020. In case the deadline has expired already, an extension request shall be filed before 22 July 2020. If the deadline has not yet expired, an extension request shall be filed within one month as of a due date. |
| Salvador | Office closed until further notice. |
| South Africa | Re-Opening of the Office. |
| Spain | Office reopened since 25 June 2020. |
| Syria | All operations suspended until further notice and deadlines to be met during this period will be automatically extended until the Office reopens for business. |
| United Kingdom | Period of interruption until 29 July 2020, most deadlines may be extended during such period. |
| United States | Extension of the two-month time-period for restoring the right of priority to or benefit of a foreign or provisional application for any non-provisional application due to be filed on or after 27 March, 2020, but on or before 30 July 2020. |
| Venezuela | All deadlines postponed until further notice. |
Our staff remains at your disposal for any further information in this regard.