Egypo.gov Website 

The Patent and Trademark Office in Egypt is open with reduced hours.  All deadlines between March 25, 2020 - June 25, 2020 have been extended to June 26, 2020.

All hearings up to April 26, 2020 have been postponed until further notice.

ompic.org.ma Website

The Patent and Trademark Office in Morocco is open.

cipc.co.za Website

The South African IP Office (CIPC) has announced that its service centers will be closed at least until 29 January 2021. All services remain available through the registry's online channels.

The Patent and Trademark Office in Sudan is open.

All deadlines related to procedures currently pending before the Offices were suspended until July 16, 2020.

The Patent and Trademark Office in Tunisia (INNORPI) has resumed activity despite the country's ongoing nationwide lockdown. 50% of the registry's central and regional employees have returned to work at the INNORPI headquarters from 8.30 am until 1.30 pm on weekdays.

http://english.sipo.gov.cn/news/officialinformation/1147236.htm 

http://english.sipo.gov.cn/news/officialinformation/1145981.htm

China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) is open.

Deadlines have not been extended, but a restoration of right may be available and CNIPA will consider suspending/extending specific deadlines if a party provides evidence that the deadline was/will be missed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and the applicant can provide evidence such as local government declarations or announcements of emergency rules, or evidence showing the applicant has been quarantined, or diagnosed with COVID-19. Where a party has lost rights due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it may, no later than 2 years after the pandemic ends, request restoration of those rights.

China's National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) will waive late fees for missed patent annuity payments if the reason can be traced back to the COVID-19 epidemic.

https://www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/whats_new/news.htm

https://www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/ip_journal_notice.htm

The Hong Kong IP Office has announced that from 18 February 2021, all of its service have returned to normal. Therefore, its public service counter is now available Monday to Friday from 9 am until 5:45 pm.

ipindia.nic.in Website

The Indian IP Office has ended the extension period for various IP matters. Back in March 2020, the Supreme Court of India had extended the period of limitation prescribed under general or special laws until further notice. Now, with Indian courts and tribunals operating at "relative normalcy," the Supreme Court of India passed further orders that will effectively end the previous order. The Court has ordered that:

1. The period from March 15, 2020 – March 14, 2021 is excluded from computing any deadline for any suit, appeal, application, or proceeding.
2. Where the deadline would have occurred during period from March 15, 2020 – March 14, 2021, the deadline is extended to 90 days after March 14, 2021, unless entitled to further extensions.
3. The period from March 15, 2020 – March 14, 2021 is excluded from the periods prescribed under certain sections of the Arbitration Conciliation Act, the Commercial Courts Act, and the Negotiable Instruments Act.

dgip.go.id Website

The Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) is physically closed but accepts late filing for any documents due from March 23-May 29, 2020.

Beginning March 22, the Japanese Patent Office will be open to the public, though the office will continue to provide flexible support to applicants who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Office has released further guidance regarding operations and hearings at the Office in light of the state of emergency issued due to continued spread of COVID-19. The guidance is available on the Office’s website.

The Office has released precautionary procedures for attending oral hearings, including:

• wearing a mask at all times - not visiting if showing any cold or flu symptoms
• sitting only in designated areas
• temperature check as prerequisite for attendance.

The Office has released clarifications regarding the need for a seal or signature on exception certificates for loss of novelty due to COVID-19. In short, the certificates do not require a name stamp or signature, if submitted within the appropriate statutory period. Full guidance is available on the Office’s website.

myipo.gov.my Website

The Malaysian Patent Office (MyIPO) is open with limited hours.

The Malaysian IP Office has announced that, from 13 January until 26 January 2021, all filings related to opposition proceedings are temporarily suspended. This measure is subject to further extension of time.

The office is open.

No deadline extension due to COVID-19, but deadlines falling between April 10, 2020-April 17, 2020 have been extended to April 20, 2020 for the new year holiday. Otherwise, all deadlines to be complied with.

ipo.gov.pk Website

All statutory deadlines for filing new applications or any other proceedings before the Patent Office falling within the period during which lockdown has been imposed by the Government (March 24-July 2) shall be condoned till the first working day that work resumes after the lockdown is lifted by the Governments and the IP Offices resume public dealings.

mne.gov.ps Website

The Patent and Trademark Offices in Gaza and West Bank are closed.

Deadlines that have come to pass since March 22, 2020 will automatically be extended until the Patent and Trademark Office reopens.

ipophil.gov.ph Website

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is open.

All deadlines falling between March 16, 2020, and April 30, 2020, are extended until June 30, 2020.
All deadlines falling between May 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, are extended until July 30, 2020. New applications with claims of priority excepted. For deadlines falling from July 20-27, 2020 submissions are extended until August 4, 2020.

The Intellectual Property Directorate in Qatar is open.

All official deadlines due as of March 13, 2020 have been extended. The submission of any documents required to complete new filings, oppositions or responses to office actions can be filed after the COVID-19 pandemic is over without penalty.

saip.gov.sa Website

The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) is physically closed but accepting filings.

Official deadlines for the submission of documents have been extended until May 3, 2020. 

oepm.es Website

The office is physically closed but accepting filings.  All filing deadlines for those required to respond between April 7, 2020 to June 4, 2020 inclusive are extended to June 5, 2020. For fees in relation to actions other than application filing, such as request for renewal, deadlines are extended to June 5, 2020, if they fall within the period of April 7, 2020 to June 4, 2020, inclusive. This extended deadline also applies to cases under the Hearings and Mediation Department.

kipo.go.kr Website

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) is open.

All non-statutory patent, utility model, design, and trademark deadlines falling between March 31, 2020-May 30, 2020 have been extended to May 31, 2020. The extended deadlines include: responses to requests to amend patent applications or correct deficiencies, submitting responses to non-final office actions, submitting responses to trademark registration oppositions, etc. Petition fees associated with requesting revival of applications that were abandoned or expired due to COVID-19 have been waived.

All statutory deadlines prescribed by law or treaty (e.g., national phase entry of PCT applications, filings under the Paris Convention) and deadlines for possible disputes between parties have not been extended.

All deadlines before the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB) for patents, utility models, designs and trademarks failing between March 31, 2020-May 30, 2020 have been extended to May 31, 2020. For later IPTAB deadlines, requests for extensions of time for reasons related to COVID-19 will be granted if filed before the due date, and requests to revive applications within two months of a lapsed deadline will be granted if a suitable explanatory statement and evidentiary materials are submitted therewith.

spo.gov.sy Website

The Office has been reopened to the public since June 1, 2020 after its closure on April 16, 2020.

Office hours are from 9 am to 1 pm. All deadlines that expire on a day on which the Office is not open to the public will expire on the first subsequent day on which the Office reopens.

The Thailand Department of Intellectual Property is open.

Thailand Department of Intellectual Property is implementing a grace period. The grace period will apply to all IP-related prosecution process deadlines for anyone who is directly affected by COVID-19. The grace period includes deadlines related to applications, oppositions, registrations, office actions or any payment. It is recommended for an applicant to try to meet their formal deadline. Due to the multiple uncertainties, including document criteria and deadlines on top of the examiner’s/registrar’s own discretion, there are considerable risks involve in relying on the grace period. Furthermore, if the request should fail, it may subsequently cause the related IP matter to lapse. An extension period of 30 days is available by request for the deadlines that fall within the outbreak period. To request such an extension, the applicant or agent must submit evidence which proves that the applicant or agent was affected by the situation (i.e., medical certificate or evidence that shows pandemic spread or official lock-down statement) within 15 days after the situation has normalized

bsabh.com Website

The UAE Patent and Trademark Office is open.

Deadlines have not been extended, though various governmental fees have been reduced as of April 5, 2020.

noip.gov Website

The office is open.

Patentamt.at Website 

All deadlines that have not expired as of March 16, 2020 have been extended to May 1, 2020. All appeals deadlines that have not expired as of March 22, 2020 have been extended to May 1, 2020.

No extension of Deadlines under the Patent Office Fees Act for the payment of annuity or renewal fees (without prejudice to the possibility of a request for restitution in integrum into a grace period for the payment of these fees) or Time limits due to EU law.

Need to file online, paper submissions will be received but not processed until later.

BOIP Website

Compliance with deadlines during the period of public health restrictions caused by the corona virus

The BOIP office is open. As long as there are emergency restrictions in the countries of Benelux, no case will lapse because the term expired from March 16, 2020 until June 24, 2020. All deadlines currently running that expire on or after June 25, 2020 remain unchanged. All deadlines set from May 25, 2020 and onwards will run as usual, even if the deadline is set to run before June 25, 2020. Any deadline set after June 24, 2020 will not have any extensions. For cases where the deadline for filing an opposition against a trademark application expired or expires between March 16, 2020 and June 24, 2020, an opposition may be filed until June 25, 2020.

Estonian Patent Office Website

The office is closed to the public from March 1, 2021, but operations continue. Applications and other documents can be filed at reception and e-channels are available, as is the possibility of using the 24 hour mailbox and regular post. Meetings will be either postponed or hold virtually. All public events have been postponed until the end of the emergency situation. Time extensions and fee relief is available on a case-by-case basis.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): important information for users of the Eurasian patent system

The Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) is open.

Extensions will not apply to the deadline for filing of divisional applications.

For action deadlines falling between March 28 and May 11, extension fees and rules apply as of May 12, 2020.

Patent deadlines for procedural actions relating to application or patents that fall on the dates from March 28 through May 11, 2020 will be extended to May 12, 2020 (the next working day).

Documents submitted via email before the deadline or that require original documents will be considered on time if the original is received at the EAPO within a month of the lifting of the restriction of receipt of documents directly on the premises of the EAPO.

European Patent Office Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

European Union Intellectual Property Office Website

The EUIPO office is physically closed but accepting filings. All deadlines between March 9, 2020, and May 17, 2020, were extended to May 18, 2020. The exceptional extensions granted by the Office ended on May 18, 2020. However, the EUIPO acknowledges that some remedies are available for users facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The time limits laid down directly by the Regulations are mandatory and cannot be extended at the request of the parties. However, time limits determined by the Office in ongoing proceedings can be extended under certain circumstances. Upon receipt of a reasoned request, the Office may grant an extension of a time limit it has set. The request must be submitted by a party to the proceedings and before the time limit in question expires.

INPI: COVID-19 - Time allowed in examination procedures

The Office has announced an accelerated patent examination program for inventions related to anti-COVID-19 treatments and devices, or inventions related to the diagnosis of COVID-19. Applicants must request this accelerated examination within 10 months of filing the applications with the Office, and it applies to patent applications filed as of June 1, 2020. Effective October 30, all INPI sites and offices are closed to the public until further notice.

German Patent and Trade Mark Office Notice

The Office remains closed to the public until further notice. German IP Office (DPMA) has confirmed that, due to a "general lockdown" in Germany to combat the pandemic, it expects the registry "will only be available to a limited extent". For that reason, the DPMA suggests that the "processing of all requests may be delayed" until at least 10 January 2021. The Office is asking all applicants to refrain from making any requests that are not absolutely necessary.

Signal Directorate - Trademarks

The Greek Patent and Trademark Office is physically closed but accepting filings.

All deadlines for the submission of documents relating to patents, utility models, SPCs and designs due between March 11, 2020 and 12 June 2020 have been suspended, with the exception of the submission of respective applications and payment of renewal and other fees, which may be only made electronically.

Intellectual Property Office of Ireland Announcement - Closure Extended

The office is physically closed, but accepting filings.

Italian Patent and Trademark Office

The Italian Patent and Trademark office is physically closed but accepting filings.

All deadlines are suspended between February 23, 2020 and  May 15, 2020, at the request of a party or ex officio.  Any certificates and IP titles expiring between January 31, 2020 - July 31, 2020 will remain valid for ninety days after the Italian government declares an end to the state of emergency.

Coronavirus and NIPO's services

The Norweigan Industrial Property Office (NIPO) is physically closed but accepting filings.  For patents, designs and trade marks, extensions of at least two months will be granted for people affected by COVID-19.

• Extensions are only available for deadlines set by the NIPO.
• The extension must be requested before expiry of the original deadline.
• Where re-establishment is required, it will be sufficient to state briefly that not meeting the specific deadline was not deliberate, and that it was due to Covid-19. In such cases, the NIPO will then take this into account without any further questions.

Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property

The office is open. The Portuguese IP Office (INPI) has announced that the registry is officially favoring digital services due to a new state of emergency. Therefore, going forward, it requests users to either contact the agency by phone or email.

State Office for Inventions and Trademarks

The Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (OSIM) is physically closed but accepting filings.

All deadlines related to the procedures before OSIM shall not run between 16 March 2020 and 14 May 2020; deadlines which had already run shall be suspended.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): important information for users of the Eurasian patent system

The Russian Patent and Trademark Office is open virtually. All patent deadlines falling between March 30, 2020 - November 30, 2020 have been extended to December 31, 2020.

Updated information on the repercussions of COVID-19

The Spanish Patent & Trademark Office (SPTO) is physically closed but accepting filings and fully operational. All deadlines in administrative proceedings currently pending before the Spanish Patent & Trademark Office (SPTO) were suspended during March 14, 2020 and June 7, 2020, and will again begin to run on June 7, 2020. The closure may be extended another 15 days.

Swedish Intellectual Property Office

The Swedish Patent and Registration Office (SPRO) is open. Because of Covid-19 it is possible to have an extra extension of the time limit for responding to the technical opinion in a patent application.  Upon request the Applicant can extend the time limit from two to four months.

Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property

The Swiss IP Office is fully functional. However, its premises are closed for the public for the time being. Visits are by prior appointment only, subject to the safety and security measures ordered by the authorities.

Time limits - Extension may be requested

The Swiss IP Office has no legal basis to 'automatically' extend deadlines. However, as a result of the Federal Council's decision of 20 March 2020 to extend legal holidays in civil and administrative procedures, the majority of time limits for procedures before the IPI were suspended from 21 March until 19 April 2020. Outside this period, applicants can request the extension of a time limit set by the Swiss IP Office (this is not possible with statutory time limits). The Swiss IP Office will exercise its full discretionary powers within the framework of national and international law to support applicants and rights holders where possible if they are threatened with procedural disadvantages due to the new coronavirus.

Fee relief - Deadlines may be extended

Applicants can request the extension of a deadline to pay a fee. However, this applies only to deadlines set by the Swiss IP Office, not statutory time limits (e.g. for the payment of a renewal fee). The Swiss IP Office will exercise its full discretionary powers within the framework of national and international law to support applicants and rights holders where possible if they are threatened with procedural disadvantages due to the new coronavirus.

Turkish Patent and Trademark Office

The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office is open.

All deadlines falling between March 13, 2020-March 27, 2020 have been extended until May 15, 2020. All deadlines falling between March 28, 2020-April 30, 2020 are extended to a date beyond May 1, 2020 equal to the remaining deadline time as of March 13, 2020 (e.g., a deadline falling on March 28, 2020 had 15 days remaining and is thus extended to May 16, 2020). All deadlines that fall after May 1, 2020, which were instituted prior to March 13, 2020, will have 49 days added to their deadlines.

Coronavirus important update on IPO services

The UKIPO has confirmed that from 1 April, 2021, its temporary fee changes to support those impacted by covid-19 have ended. Various fees related to extensions of time and late payments were reduced, but those costs have now returned to their usual fee.

Important update on CIPO operations and services

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is open, but clients should expect some delays. To support clients dealing with the COVID-19, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) put in place several periods of designated days that effectively suspended most deadlines. Most deadlines that fell between March 16, 2020, and August 27, 2020, were extended until August 28, 2020.   Designated days ended on August 28, 2020.  Normal deadlines and fee payment dates are resumed.

Cuban Industrial Property Office (OCPI)

The Cuban IP Office (OCPI) has announced on October 12, 2020 that all "services and procedures" have resumed at the office after a period of emergency measures.

Mexican Institute of Industrial Property

The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) is open for regular activities as of July 13, 2020. IMPI was closed to the public from March 27 to July 5, 2020. IMPI opened from July 6 to July 10 in order to receive documents only. For the purposes of calculating time limits, expiration of any period during which any document or fee in connection with an international application was required to reach the Office fell on one of the aforementioned days, that period is extended so as to expire on July 13, 2020.

USPTO notices regarding COVID-19

The United States Copyright Office (USCO) is open for business, with limited interruptions. The physical offices are closed to the public until further notice. The USCO is handling registration claims and other materials that are received electronically, by post and by commercial deliver services. the USCO is unable to accept deliveries by personal courier. For certain categories of requests that typically require paper filings, the Office has adopted new rules to allow for electronic submissions of certain filings, including filing of notices of termination for recordation, requests for reconsideration of refusals to register, and requests for removal of personally identifiable information (PII) from the public record. In addition, for those applications for registration that must be accompanied by a hard copy “best edition” of the work, the Office is allowing applicants to electronically submit an electronic deposit copy along with a declaration form stating that the electronic deposit is identical to the required physical deposit, which will be mailed separately.

Fee relief – None

Time limits

Under the CARES Act, the USCO has extended the time allowed to file and/or serve certain copyright-related documents through May 10, 2021. This includes the timing for filing paper applications for registration in certain circumstances and the timing for serving and recording notices of termination. The adjustments pertaining to section 115 are no longer needed, and therefore they will not be extended further at this time (time allowed was previously extended to January 8, 2021).

Business continuity and the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

A streamlined process for extension of time requests was available from 22 April 2020 until 31 March 2021. After 31 March, 2021, extensions of time for customers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak will still be available on a case-by-case basis. For plant breeders' rights, IP Australia will be providing impacted customers with extra time if the legislation allows it.

Fee relief - Deadlines extended

Associated fees for streamlined extensions are waived to assist the applicants and IP owners impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. IP Australia has made upgrades to eServices to streamline the process for requesting free extensions of time and to allow fees to be automatically waived.

IPONZ services during COVID-19

The IP Office in New Zealand is currently operating as usual but we will update should there be any changes. Where an applicant cannot carry out an action within time due to the COVID-19 outbreak an extension of time may be available and will be considered on a case by case basis as per the current practice. Applicants should note that some time periods cannot be extended. The New Zealand Patent Office encourages Applicants to check if an extension of time is possible for their application in New Zealand.

National Institute of Industrial Property

The Argentinian Patent and Trademark Office is open, minimum service is provided in person. Users who cannot carry out actions online can make an appointment to attend the office, but the use of online systems is strongly advised.

Legal terms for all procedures have been suspended from March 12, 2020, until the State of Emergency is lifted (at least 11 October 2020).

National Institute of Industrial Property

The Brazilian IP Office (INPI) has confirmed that any IP deadlines that fall between 26 March and 1 April 2021 are automatically extended until 5 April 2021.

National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI)

The Chilean IP Office (INAPI) has created a new area in its headquarters to allow face-to-face care" for exceptional cases." From 25 January 2021, users can access a space on the second floor of the INAPI building that has been specifically set-up for essential procedures. To do so, users must request time in the area by phone, with hours available between 10 am and 1 pm on weekdays. Some of the procedures that the area can be used for includes delivering priority certificates without an electronic signature, delivering sworn statements without an electronic signature, submitting applications for geographical indications, and submitting collective trademark applications.

Announcement regarding Industrial Property Office

The Office is open virtually. The office was not open to the public between March 17 and March 31, 2020. All deadlines falling between these days were extended until April 1, 2020. Terms for filing renewals and annuities were also extended. The suspension of fee payments was in place from March 17 to June 15, 2020.

National Service for Intellectual Rights

The office is open virtually. All deadlines falling after March 16, 2020 are extended to July 16, 2020, after which normal computation of time for deadlines resumes.

The office is open. All procedural deadlines falling between March 11, 2020 - June 30, 2020 were extended to July 1, 2020, and normal computation of time for deadlines has resumed.

Indecopi Website

The Peruvian IP Office (Indecopi) has updated users following the Peru government's announcement of new lockdown measures in the country. From 31 January until 14 February, new 'confinement' measures are implemented in various regions across Peru. In response, the agency has confirmed that some of its physical offices (in Amazonas, Apurímac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Chimbote, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huánuco, Huaraz, Ica, Junín, La Merced, Lima Norte, Moquegua, Pasco, Puno, San Borja, Tacna, Tumbes and Vraem) are now closed for face-to-face assistance, but are open for phone assistance Monday to Friday from 8.30 am until 5.30 pm. Some of the registry's other physical offices (in La Libertad, Lambayeque, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Piura, San Martín and Ucayali) are available for in-person assistance briefly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am until 1 pm.