The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is still able to receive and examine trade mark and design applications filed using its online systems, it has confirmed.
The regulator says despite the period of unprecedented disruption, customers can still use some services as usual.
However, the IPO says applicants are “strongly encouraged” to use online services for new applications to avoid delays.
The notice comes after the IPO officially declared days after 24 March 2020 as “interrupted days” until further notice. 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.
“For new trade mark examination reports we will allow a four-month default period to respond, not the current two months, hopefully removing the need for an extension; interrupted days still applies to deadlines that fall during the period of interruption,” said the Office.
“We are unable to allow longer default time periods for design examination reports (because they are set by statute), but interrupted days applies to deadlines that fall during the period of interruption, plus extensions are available after that if required.”
The regulator added that extended default time periods for design examination reports cannot be granted, but “interrupted days applies to deadlines that fall during the period of interruption, plus extensions are available after that if required”.
The IPO says it plans to review the period of interruption on Friday 17 April 2020, after which date the interruption period may be continued or cease after a further two weeks.
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