Given the enormous, and growing, disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Patent Office (EPO) has taken the decision to extend all deadlines for application until 17 April 2020. The decision was announced in a Notice dated 17 March, which stated that “In view of the problems caused by the disruptions due to the COVID-19 outbreak … Periods expiring on or after the date of this Notice are thus extended for all parties and their representatives to 17 April 2020”.
In a similar move, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has decided that “all time limits expiring between 9 March 2020 and 30 April 2020 inclusive that affect all parties in proceedings before the Office are extended until 1 May 2020”.
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), conversely, has issued a statement confirming that “Patent and trademark application deadlines and other deadlines are not extended”, although it has nonetheless closed its offices to the public with immediate effect and “until further notice”.
