All EUIPO deadlines extended to 1 May 2020 in response to COVID-19 pandemic

The EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has announced that all time limits expiring between 9 March and 30 April 2020 will automatically be extended to Friday 1 May 2020. In practice, this means that time limits are extended until Monday 4 May 2020 as the EUIPO is closed on Friday 1 May for Labour day. The announcement comes in the form of an official decision of the EUIPO and is in response to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The decision applies to all deadlines relating to EU trade mark and EU design applications and disputes before the EUIPO that fall within the specified time period. The EUIPO has confirmed that it includes statutory deadlines (such as renewal and priority deadlines). The EUIPO has said that it is otherwise business as usual.

The decision follows similar announcements by other Intellectual property Offices such as Italy which has stayed a number, although not all, deadlines. The UK Intellectual Property Office has said that it is willing to consider requests for extensions of time as favourably as possible on a case-by-case basis.

We wanted to take this opportunity to reassure you of our commitment to supporting your business needs. As an agile business, we are using our technologies and remote working access to ensure that we manage your matters across our international network. Our IP and Media team continues to operate to full capacity.

If you have any queries – or require any advice on how COVID-19 might affect your business – please get in touch with your usual Taylor Wessing contact.