Patent Office Updates You Need to Know (November 9, 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 Canadian Patent Office (CIPO) updated a number of FAQs related to proceedings before the Trademarks Opposition Board on November 2, 2020.  Learn more here.
  
• The European Patent Office (EPO) has requested that all visitors abstain from visiting the EPO if they have recently visited a high risk area, on November 2, 2020. Visitors who have been to a high risk area must confirm they have had a negative COVID-19 test taken at least five days after they left the high risk area.  Visitors will also be asked to sign a declaration of the areas they have visited in the two weeks prior to their visit to the office.

• The German Patent Office (DPMA) has announced that it held a virtual meeting of its User Advisory Council and discussed the Office operations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, on November 2, 2020. The User Advisory Council addressed, among other topics, current developments concerning patent and utility model procedures during the coronavirus crisis and patent information trends.
• The Indian Patent Office (IPI) has officially adopted amendments to the patent law. The Office released a memo, available here, outlining the amendments to the 2003 patent rules.  These amendments were accepted on November 4, 2020.
  
• The French IP Office (INPI) has announced that starting October 30, 2020, all of its premises are closed to the public for the foreseeable future. The move follows government measures to restrict the spread of coronavirus in France.
  
• The Portuguese IP Office (INPI) has confirmed that, in light of ongoing measures to control infection of COVID-19, all of its service are only available online until December 31, 2020. More information is available 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.

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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.