Due to the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), IPOPHIL has issued ECQ extension guidelines regarding the adjustment of the compliance dates affected by the new ECQ period. The salient portions of the guidelines are provided below:
- All scheduled hearings before the IPOPHL, including mediation, shall remain suspended until 15 May 2020.
- Deadlines falling from 16 March 2020 to 31 March 2020, submissions may be filed until 31 May 2020.
- Deadlines falling from 01 April 2020 to 15 May 2020 are extended for a period of sixty (60) calendar days from the due date.
- New applications for patents, utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks for the period of 16 March 2020
to 15 May 2020 may be filed online through the IPOPHL electronic filing system but processing shall commence upon resumption of work. - For invention, utility model, industrial design, and trademark applications claiming priority date, the online filing must be used to comply with the prescribed period for claiming of priority date.
- Payment of filing fees including a claim for convention priority fee of new applications for patents, utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks, with or without a claim of priority date, which are filed through the IPOPHL electronic filing systems shall be extended for a period of sixty (60) calendar days from the due date.
- The operations of the documentary receiving sections of IPOPHL are suspended. Letters, queries, or any other written communications may be filed on the next working day after the effectivity of the enhanced community quarantine.
- To observe social distancing, all seminars, meetings, and public hearings scheduled until 15 May 2020 shall be reset to a later date.
To read the IPOPHL ECQ Extension Guidelines, please click this [link].