Update - Deadline Extensions

Deadline Extensions at the European Patent Office (EPO), United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), and European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)

European Patent Office - EPO

All periods expiring on or after 15 March 2020 are extended until 04 May 2020 for all parties and their representatives - Rule 134(2) EPC. This period may be extended if disruption continues.

The pandemic constitutes an exceptional occurrence, which means that retrospective extensions of missed deadlines may be available under the EPC (Rule 134(5) EPC) and PCT (Rule 82quater.1 PCT).

Oral proceedings will not be held in the premises of the Boards of Appeal until 15 May 2020. Concerned parties will be contacted accordingly with a communication. This period may be extended in due course.

All new oral proceedings before Examining Divisions arranged on or after 02 April 2020 will take place by videoconference
The European patent office publish the latest information on Covid 19 related interruptions and extensions on their website as follows:

https://www.epo.org/news-issues/covid-19.html

United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office - UKIPO

The UKIPO have declared that “interrupted days” extending to 07 May 2020, when they will decide whether to extend or close the interrupted period. UKIPO have previously promised that even when they do close the period, they will give us 14 days notice of the end date, which should mean that the extension of deadlines at the UKIPO is to at least 21 May 2020.

European Union Intellectual Property Office - EUIPO

On 30th April 2020, the Executive Director of the EUIPO announced that all deadlines which will be expiring between 9th March 2020 and 17th May 2020 are now extended until 18 May 2020 to support and assist users during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

This extension covers all deadlines, whether they have been set by the Office or stipulated directly in the regulations, the effect will be automatic.

The Office has prepared more information which can be found here

https://euipo.europa.eu/tunnel-web/secure/webdav/guest/document_library/contentPdfs/law_and_practice/decisions_president/EX-20-04_en.pdf

The above information is believed to be correct at the time of posting, but new announcements may occur at any time. The above should not be relied upon as definitive legal advice. If you have a particular query on any particular deadline then please contact us.