Impact Of COVID-19 On Patent Deadlines

With courthouse closures and law firms quick to implement remote working policies, the COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact beyond the realm of public health. As the virus continues to spread, IP offices are adopting measures to accommodate missed deadlines relating to COVID-19. We caution that the information below is a snapshot only – the situation is extremely fluid and we expect that additional extensions of time or special considerations for the hardship that the current situation has caused are likely to be introduced in the days and weeks ahead.

Canada – Extend Deadlines

On March 17^th, 2020, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) announced that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, deadlines falling between Mach 16^th and March 31^st are extended to April 1^st 2020. Such deadlines include deadlines for responding to Examiner's Reports, renewal deadlines, and any other deadline that is fixed under the Patent Act. On March 27^th, 2020, the CIPO  announc