by Jeremy Erwin May-01-2020 in Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, COVID-19
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland and the European Union Intellectual Property Office have extended time limits for certain procedures and actions before those offices.
Intellectual Property Office of Ireland
From Friday 13 March 2020 to 5 May 2020 (inclusive), the IPOI is closed for the transaction of business with the public. Under the Trade Mark Acts and Rules, these are “excluded days” and therefore the deadline for doing anything required within that timeframe is extended (as matters stand) until 5 May 2020. It is likely that this deadline will be extended again in the near future.
The IPOI will continue to deal with e-filings, process payments, and respond to email enquiries.
European Union Intellectual Property Office
The EUIPO issued a first extension on 9 March 2020, extending all time limits before it expiring between 9 March 2020 and 30 April 2020 to 1 May 2020. On 29 April 2020, the EUIPO issued a second extension, between 1 May 2020 and 17 May 2020.
The extensions effectively mean that procedural deadlines between 9 March and 17 May 2020 have been extended to 18 May 2020.
The reference to all time limits covers all procedural deadlines before the EUIPO and includes:-
- Payment of application fee
- Application for priority
- Opposition period
- Request for renewal
- Filing of an appeal and Statement of Grounds
The extension of time does not apply to an action before the General Court against a decision of the Boards of Appeal.
The EUIPO has confirmed that individual users will not be informed about the grant of an extension by means of an individual communication.
If you require any information about the extension of the deadlines, or require assistance with an application to the IPOI or EUIPO, please do not hesitate to contact Jeremy Erwin jerwin@hayes-solicitors.ie at Hayes solicitors.
Back to Full NewsShare this article:
About the Author
Jeremy Erwin
Jeremy specialises in insolvency, commercial litigation and dispute resolution, acting for a variety of companies and financial institutions in contract law cases, enforcement and recovery actions and in high value complex Commercial Court proceedings. Jeremy also specialises in intellectual property matters, including advising on registration and protection of trade marks and related rights and on trade mark disputes.