EUIPO and EPO Push Deadlines as COVID-19 Spreads
2020/03/18
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has extended its deadlines until May 1 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.
The decision, announced today by EUIPO executive director Christian Archambeau, applies to all time limits falling within March 9 and April 30.
The EUIPO had previously extended deadlines for Chinese parties.
The spread of COVID-19 across Europe and North America has either brought much of the IP community’s work to a halt or forced it online.
Yesterday, the European Patent Office (EPO) granted a reprieve to parties with an extension of all deadlines until April 17.
The deadline could be extended further if “the dislocation extends beyond” April 17, the office said.
The EPO extension came on the same day as the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced it was closing all of its offices to the public “until further notice”.
Source: World IP Review
