The USPTO has issued COVID-19 updates for trademark owners and counsel.  This supersedes the March 31, 2020 notice previously reported here. The USPTO continues to view the Coronavirus outbreak to be an extraordinary situation within the meaning of 37 CFR Section 2.146 for affected trademark applicants and owners.  Therefore, it has issued the following updates to its earlier rules to provide relief in certain situations: Response due dates.   Relief continues for a limited time…

We recently spoke with Amy Chan, principal of the Trade Marks team of Spruson & Ferguson to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted trademark opposition and cancellation procedures in Singapore and Malaysia. 1.  How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Singapore and Malaysia policies and procedures regarding trademark oppositions, cancellations, and invalidations?  IP Offices in Singapore and Malaysia are taking steps to protect the well-being of their employees, customers and stakeholders and are closed during this period.…

We recently spoke with Patricio Albornoz, senior associate at Bomchil Abogados in Buenos Aires, to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted Argentina trademark opposition and cancellation rules and procedures. 1. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your national trademark office’s policies and procedures regarding trademark oppositions, cancellations, and invalidations?  The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) issued INPI Resolution No. RESOL-2020-16-APN-INPI # MDP, to suspend all deadlines related to any Argentina trademark opposition, notifications, and Office…

We recently spoke with Martin Hermida, intellectual property consultant at ClarkeModet in Uruguay, to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted Uruguay trademark opposition and cancellation rules and procedures. 1. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your national trademark office’s policies and procedures regarding Uruguay trademark oppositions, cancellations, and invalidations? The COVID-19 pandemic has not affected the procedures regarding trademark oppositions, cancellations, and invalidations to this day.  The most important reason for this is that all…

We recently spoke with Blake Knowles, principal partner at Spruson & Ferguson, to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted Australia trademark opposition and cancellation rules and procedures. 1.  Thank you for your time, Blake.  How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted IP Australia’s policies and procedures regarding trademark oppositions, cancellations, and invalidations?  IP Australia has facilitated remote working for some time now, and is well placed to continue operations during the current pandemic. IP Australia has…

The U.S. Trademark Office has issued updated rules due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The new rules are part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  These rules are in addition to those previously reported here. CARES Act overview.   Section 12004 of the CARES Act may toll, waive, adjust, or modify and deadlines due to the coronavirus.  The relevant factors to determine whether such relief should be granted include if the…

The USPTO has issued a policy about the coronavirus and trademark deadlines. According to the statement, the USPTO considers the effects of the Coronavirus to be an “extraordinary situation” within the meaning 37 CFR 1.183 and 37 CFR 2.146 for affected trademark owners.  While the new guidelines waive certain fees, they do not waive statutory deadline requirements. Business before the USPTO.   Until further notice, all oral arguments before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal…