The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has announced a further extension of deadlines to July 6, 2020.
All statutory deadlines under the Patent Act, the Trademarks Act, and the Industrial Design Act falling between March 16, 2020 and July 3, 2020 are now automatically extended to July 6, 2020 as a result of the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Deadlines in trademark opposition proceedings before the Trademarks Opposition Board (TMOB) have similarly been extended to July 6, 2020.
Any deadlines set in the Trademarks Act, Trademarks Regulations, or by the Registrar in a TMOB proceeding that fell between March 16, 2020 and July 3, 2020 now fall on July 6, 2020. For deadlines that fall on or after July 6, 2020, the Registrar will consider the disruption caused by COVID-19 a sufficient circumstance to obtain an extension of time upon request. Further, the Registrar may use its discretion to extend deadlines on its own initiative, if it is in the interests of justice to do so.
CIPO remains open and operational and is working hard to eliminate the residual delays in services which have stemmed from the ongoing pandemic. However, if warranted, statutory deadlines could be extended even further. CIPO encourages intellectual property owners to make use of its online services and to act on or before any deadlines, to the extent possible.
Intellectual property owners with questions regarding specific deadlines should reach out to their professional advisors as soon as possible. Our professionals and staff are ready and available to continue to meet original CIPO deadlines as instructed by clients.
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For more information on the legal implications of COVID-19, please consult our COVID-19 Hub. As a full service global firm with offices across Canada, Norton Rose Fulbright is closely monitoring this evolving situation over a number of practice areas including employment and labour, risk advisory, banking and finance, corporate, M&A and securities, and dispute resolution and litigation, and across a variety of industries including energy, infrastructure, mining and commodities, financial institutions, life sciences and healthcare, technology and innovation, and transport.
