Patent Office Updates You Need to Know (July 13, 2020)

As part of our dedication to helping our clients stay up-to-date on the ever-changing landscape as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve compiled the following highlights of changes to patent, trademark, and copyright operations around the world.  

As always, a complete list of countries may be found in our Google Document.

Update Highlights

• The U.S. Copyright Office has further extended the temporary adjustments to certain timing provisions for persons affected by the COVID-19 emergency through September 8, 2020. 
  
  

• The Administrative Council of the European Patent Office (EPO) waived fees for belated payments of renewal fees falling due on or after March 15, 2020 up until August 31 2020.
  
  

• The Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM) confirmed that PCT applicants are now able to obtain patent protection in Italy directly via an international PCT application, starting July 1, 2020.
  
  
• The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released a high-level patent filing data for the first half of 2020 showing full recovery from coronavirus-induced drop, on July 9, 2020.
  
  

• The Brazilian IP Office (INPI) has announced the extension of teleworking until at least  August 16, 2020.
  
  

• Other general closures & deadline extensions have been added to the document.

If you have any patent or trademark questions during this time, do not hesitate to contact us.

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Vorys COVID-19 Task Force

Vorys attorneys and professionals are counseling our clients in the myriad issues related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.  We have also established a comprehensive Coronavirus Task Force, which includes attorneys with deep experience in the niche disciplines that we have been and expect to continue receiving questions regarding coronavirus. Learn more and see the latest updates from the task force at vorys.com/coronavirus.