Patent & Trademark Extensions Announced in Response to COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 Emergency, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced extensions (read more here) to the time allowed to file certain patent- and trademark-related documents, as well as payment of certain required fees. These actions are an exercise of temporary authority provided to the USPTO by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020. Read the press release for more information.
The USPTO considers the pandemic to be an “extraordinary situation” for affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners under 37 CFR 1.183. Therefore, the USPTO is waiving the requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(e)(1) and (2) for an original handwritten signature for certain correspondence with the Office of Enrollment and Discipline and certain payments by credit card. The Office notes that the requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(e)(1) and (2) are the only USPTO requirements for original handwritten, ink signatures, and the USPTO has no other requirements for original handwritten, ink signatures. Read more details in the official notice.
Please contact me at silvia@salvadorilaw.com with questions or comments.
Silvia Salvadori, PhD