Patent Office Updates You Need to Know (August 11, 2021)

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. 

The following are a few recent updates identified in the past month.  However, as always, a complete list of countries may be found in our Google Document.

Update Highlights

• The Federal Circuit has updated its access restrictions to the National Courts Building complex through August 31, 2021.  All persons must wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. Fully vaccinated individuals, though, do not need to observe social distancing.
•  The USPTO has made the July 2021 Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) available online. The update reflects final rules, examination guides, and any other statement of USPTO policy, as well Supreme Court decisions. The USPTO also published a change summary.
• The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that the Boards of Appeal have revised some of their measures for the arrangement and conduct of oral proceedings: self tests are strongly recommended and new rules on access to the buildings for vaccinated and recovered people are in place. More information here.
• 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.