European Union IP Office Covid-19 Extension

Published date13 May 2020
AuthorMr Erik Rouk
Subject MatterIntellectual Property, Trademark
Law FirmMarks & Clerk

Following its initial announcement on 16th March 2020 extending all time limits until 1 May 2020, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), have announced today, 29th April 2020, that all time limits expiring between 1 May 2020 and 17 May 2020 will be extended until 18 May 2020.

As previously, the extension will cover all procedural deadlines, irrespective of whether they have been set by the EUIPO or are stipulated directly in the Regulations, and the effect of the extension is automatic.

In accordance with the explanatory note published here, the term "all time limits" covers:

  • time limits set by the Office in any proceeding before the EUIPO, including the EUIPO Boards of Appeal and
  • time limits imposed directly by the EU Trade Marks Regulations and Community Designs Regulations including those originating from the Paris Convention or other International Treaties.

However the extension does not extend to proceedings before other authorities, such as the deadline for bringing an action before the General Court against decisions of the Boards of Appeal.

It is notable that the Office will continue to function in respect of any actions or procedural obligations that parties to proceedings before the EUIPO choose to discharge prior to the extended time limit. This means that, for example, that where the extended time limit concerns the submission of the last round of observations in an Opposition, Cancellation or RCD Invalidity action, and observations are...

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