CIPO Extends Deadlines to May 1 Due To COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent to its announcement made on March 17, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) announced on March 27, 2020 to add to "designated days" all days in the period of time beginning on April 1, 2020 and ending on April 30, 2020. Thus, all deadlines for patents, trademarks and industrial designs falling in the period between March 16, 2020 and April 30, 2020 now have been extended to May 1, 2020. If the circumstances that led to the designation of these days continue, the deadlines may be further extended.

It should be noted that the deadlines extended are those fixed under Canada's Patent Act, Trademarks Act and Industrial Design Act. Thus, for example, a deadline to file a PCT application with CIPO as receiving office is not affected.