EUIPO extends deadlines for Chinese parties over COVID-19 "exceptional occurrence"
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has extended deadlines in trademark and community design proceedings for Chinese parties in light of the novel coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19.
The decision, issued by the EUIPO executive director Christian Archambeau last Friday, February 14, states all deadlines falling between January 30 to February 28 will be extended until February 29.
The extension only applies to parties who are resident or have their registered office in China.
In the decision, Archambeau cited EU Regulation 2017/1001 on EU trademarks, which allows for extensions in the event of an “exceptional occurrence”.
Archambeau said the COVID-19 epidemic, designated by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency, had disrupted “proper communication between the parties and the EUIPO”.
The move comes as the European Patent Office (EPO) reportedly mulls postponing some oral hearings amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“We are in close contact with our user community and will provide information whenever this becomes necessary. Such steps could also involve postponement of oral proceedings if a party is adversely affected by the outbreak,” said EPO spokesperson Luis Berenguer.
The EPO said it would have such powers under the rules of the European Patent Convention (EPC).
Updates on COVID-19 outbreak’s impact on IP can be followed on WIPR’s live blog.
So far, the virus has forced the cancellation of the International Trademark Association’s planned annual meeting in Singapore, as well as the annual conference of the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition.
It remains to be seen whether the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property’s (AIPPI) planned October congress in Guangzhou will be affected.
Did you enjoy reading this story? Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories sent like this straight to your inbox.
Today's top stories:
Singapore set to benefit from WIPO designs treaty, says IPOS
Nanoco sues Samsung over quantum dots patent infringement
Ex-Trump security advisor warns against Chinese leadership of WIPO
Report paints ‘bleak’ picture of federal judiciary diversity in US
