The “interrupted period” for trade mark and design deadlines has been formally extended amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic, it has been confirmed.
According to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the period from 24 March 2020 and subsequent days “until further notice” are to be interrupted days.
It means that any deadlines for patents, supplementary protection certificates, trade marks, designs, and applications for these rights which fall on an interrupted day will be extended to the next non-interrupted day.
Notably, this period only applies to time periods set out under UK laws and regulations, and not those set out under the various international IP treaties, such as the Patent Cooperation Treaty, European Patent Convention, or the Madrid system. These frameworks are currently operating their own interruption periods in respect to the pandemic.
Commenting on the extended interrupted period, the IPO said: “We are taking this action in view of the disruption to applicants’ businesses and ability to receive and send post by the current coronavirus pandemic.
“It is consistent with action taken by other intellectual property offices such as the European Patent Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office.”
The next review will take place on 22 June 2020. The IPO has confirmed that it will give rights holders at least two weeks’ notice before ending the interrupted period.
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