COVID-19: Intellectual Property & Arrangements of Offices
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Partner
France
I am a partner in our Intellectual Property group in Paris. Over the last twenty years I have built extensive experience across the full spectrum of IP with a particular focus on patent litigation.
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In the sanitary context related to COVID-19, and following the example of most National Intellectual Property Offices of the European Union, the General Director of INPI decided on March 16 to defer the administrative deadlines before the Office (Decision, Communication).
Following this decision published on March 19, all time limits referred to in Articles R.514-1, R.618-4 and R.718-1 of the French Intellectual Property Code will be automatically extended for an additional 4 months. For all other time limits, an Ordinance is to be passed to extend them.
In other words, except for the renewal terms, as well as all terms relating to the opposition proceedings, all terms relating to the examination and issuance of Intellectual Property rights in respect of Trademarks, Patents, Designs are extended for 4 months.
At a global level, the European Union Office for Intellectual Property (EUIPO) has indicated that all terms, including the opposition terms against European Union trademark applications or International trademark applications designating the European Union, from March 9, 2020 until April 30, 2020, will be extended until May 1, 2020 (Decision, Communication).
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO: Bulletin info, Communication), as well as the European Patent Office (EPO: Communication) have also issued exceptional measures with regard to the administrative term extensions.
We invite you to follow the evolution of the different measures taken by the International Intellectual Property organizations on the above links, as well as on the following link, which summarizes the situation of the National Offices throughout the European Union, as prepared and regularly updated by our International teams, providing an Office per Office status report: Status IP European Offices.
During this challenging period, uninterrupted service both in France and abroad is therefore ensured by the various National and International administrative staff.
Our team also guarantees the service availability by assisting and advising you in your various projects, in order to respond to any of your concerns, remotely, without compromising our availability and reactivity.
Please rest assured of our full support and presence at your side throughout this period. We wish you and your loved one to stay healthy.
For any question, please email us here.
