A notification on EUIPO website shows that the Executive Director Christian Archambeau has published a new Decision concerning the extension of time limits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new Decision (No EX-20-4) states:
Article 1
Purpose and scope
(1) In accordance with Article 101(4) EUTMR and Article 58(4) CDIR, all time limits expiring between 1 May 2020 and 17 May 2020 inclusive that affect all parties in proceedings before the Office are extended until 18 May 2020.
(2) In the event parties to proceedings before the Office choose to discharge their procedural obligations before the expiry of the extended time limit, by submitting observations, documents or performing any other procedural act, the relevant time limit will be considered exhausted and the proceedings will continue without awaiting its expiration pursuant to Article 1.
Article 2
Entry into force
The Decision will enter into force on the day following its adoption and will be published in the Official Journal of the Office.
This is the second extension of time limits due to to the COVID-19 pandemic with widespread application as a response to the exceptional circumstances caused by the pandemic. Decision No EX-20-3, published on 16 March, extended until 1 May 2020 all time limits expiring between 9 March 2020 and 30 April 2020.
In effect, all deadlines expiring between 9 March and 17 May are extended until 18 May.
The extension covers all procedural deadlines, irrespective of whether they have been set by the Office or are stipulated directly in the Regulations, and the effect is automatic.
Source: European Union Intellectual Property Office
