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Patent Office Updates You Need to Know (November 16, 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 is further extending emergency measures, including the extension of statutory deadlines for persons affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Register is extending the modifications for up to an additional 60 days, or through January 8, 2021. More information here.

  • The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that, effective January 4, 2021, oral proceedings before the Opposition Divisions will proceed only by videoconference.  Oral proceedings before the Examining and Opposition Divisions that cannot be conducted via remote means will be postponed until after September 15, 2021.  The EPO also updated remedies available to applicants in cases involving non-observance of time limits caused by COVID-19.

  • The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) released a joint statement with Offices of the ID5 and TM5, the Chinese IP Office (CNIPA), the Japanese IP Office (JPO), the Korean IP Office (KIPO) and the USPTO, expressing support for all those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and reaffirming its commitment to assisting trademark and design owners and users.

  • The United Kingdom IP Office (UKIPO) has confirmed that its fax service has been turned off. Any documents that cannot be filed online should be sent to a new dedicated email address (forms@ipo.gov.uk). This email address replaces a previous correspondence (paperformcontingency@ipo.gov.uk), and follows the UKIPO warning of delays to filings and urging users to file via its digital channels. Customers should use the email address information@ipo.gov.uk for any further correspondence with the Office.

  • The Commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) spoke at the Global Intellectual Property Challenges Forum and discussed how IP agencies can work together to support epidemic-related scientific and technological breakthroughs.

  • The German Patent Office (DMPA) will partially reopen to the public in order to display certain public notifications.

  • 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. 

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