The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has officially extended the interrupted period for trademark applications and deadlines in light of continuing social distancing measures.
According to the department, the extended interrupted period means that any deadlines for patents, supplementary protection certificates, trademarks, designs, and applications for these rights which fall in an interrupted day will be extended to the next non-interrupted day.
Officially, the interrupted period now extends from 24 March 2020 “until further notice”.
However, the IPO will give rights holders two weeks notice before ending the interrupted period to enable them to make appropriate preparations.
Commenting on the changes, the department said: “This applies to all time periods set out in the various relevant UK Acts and Rules, and to all non-statutory periods that have been specified by staff.”
But “it does not apply to time periods set out under the various international IP treaties” such as the Patent Cooperation Treaty, European Patent Convention, or the Madrid system, where the Office may be acting as a Receiving Office, it added.
Despite Covid-19 disruption, the IPO has reiterated that it is still able to receive and examine trademark and design applications using its online systems. To accommodate for delays, the office will allow a four-month default period to respond, rather than the standard two months.
For more information about the interrupted period, please click here.
Do you need intellectual property support? For help and advice, get in touch with our expert team today.