IPOPHL has issued guidelines in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The salient portions of the guidelines are provided below:
- All scheduled hearings before the IPOPHL, including mediation, are suspended.
- Deadlines for all papers, pleadings, documents, and payments thereof falling due from March 16, 2020, to April 14, 2020, are deemed extended for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days from the due date.
- New applications for patents, utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks, for the period of 16 March 2020 to 14 April 2020 may be filed online through the IPOPHL electronic filing system but processing shall commence upon resumption of work. No manual filing shall be accepted during the said period.
- Payment of filing fees including claim for convention priority fee of new applications for patents, utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks, with or without claim of priority date filed from March 16, 2020 to April 14, 2020 through the IPOPHL electronic filing systems are deemed extended for a period of forty five (45) calendar days from the online filing date. However, applicants may still opt to pay using the online payment system upon filing.
- For invention, utility model, industrial design and trademark applications claiming priority date, online filing must be used to comply with the prescribed period for claiming of priority date.
- Processing of new applications for patents, utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks, whether claiming priority date or not, filed from March 16, 2020 to April 14, 2020 through the IPOPHL electronic filing system shall be processed upon resumption of work.
- The operations of the documentary receiving sections of IPOPHL are suspended. Letters, queries, or any other written communications may be filed beginning 15 April 2020.
- All seminars, meetings, and public hearings scheduled from 16 March 2020 to 14 April 2020 shall be reset to a later date.
The full text of the IPOPHL COVID-19 Guidelines is available [here] .
