COVID-19 Patent & Trademark Office Updates

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 United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced COVID-19 Prioritized Examination Program for certain trademark and service mark applications, on June 15, 2020.
  
  
• USPTO announced relief to restore priority extending the time period for petitioning for certain rights of priority or benefit in a patent application and waiving the associated petition fee, on June 12, 2020.
  
  
• The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUPIO) released a video confirming that approximately 70 volunteers have entered the EUIPO's Alicante premises as part of the first phase of the office's return plan, on June 12, 2020.
  
  
• The Canadian IP Office (CIPO) confirmed another automatic extension of deadlines until July 6, 2020. The move means that any deadlines related to trademarks, industrial designs and patents falling between March 16 and July 3, 2020 will now be extended until July 6, 2020.
  
  
• 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.