Status of Intellectual Property Offices in CEE

Country / IPO

IPO Measures

Links

In alphabetical order.

Austria

AT IPO

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

communication on deadline extension

regulation by the president of the AT IPO

Federal Act on Accompanying Measures for COVID-19 in the area of industrial property (part of 4th COVID-19 Act)

Federal Act on Accompanying Measures for COVID-19 in the Judiciary (part of 2nd COVID-19 Act)

Administrative deadlines still pending on 16 March have been interrupted until 30 April and started anew on 1 May; the AT IPO may have also set an appropriate new deadline (starting from 1 May) instead.

Statutory deadlines (e.g. opposition or priority deadlines, except deadlines pursuant to the Patent Office Fees Act, thus for payment of annuity or renewal fees and deadlines pursuant to EU law) have been interrupted between 16 March and 30 April (i.e. this period is not included in the deadlines).

Deadlines for appeals before the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Vienna and the Austrian Supreme Court (OGH) in proceedings originating from the AT IPO not lapsed by 22 March have been interrupted until 30 April and started anew on 1 May.

Hearings are in general held on a minimal basis; in person meetings (e.g. for consultation purposes) are rendered only by appointment.

Services and consultations are also provided via video-calls (e.g. Skype).

As of 1 July, the physical mailbox located at the AT IPO closed permanently.

Filings shall preferably be submitted electronically (see here for the AT IPO's online services) or, if not available (i.e. not feasible, appropriate or reasonable), by mail. In person submissions are possible during opening hours at the customer centre (i.e. from Monday to Friday between 9 am and noon).

Bosnia & Herzegovina

B&H IPI

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

notice

The B&H IPI is continuing its operations as usual, i.e. no deadline extension/suspension due to COVID-19 is or was implemented.

Since 22 May, the B&H IPI is conducting its operations as usual (in full operational power, i.e. full working time with all its employees).

Bulgaria

BG PTO

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

amendment to the Act on the measures and actions during the announced state of emergency

From 17 April, all deadlines in proceedings before the BG PTO (including those initially interrupted due to the impact of COVID-19) continued to run.

All deadlines in proceedings before the BG PTO to expire between 13 March and until the state of emergency was lifted were extended by one month from the date of the lifting of the state of emergency (14 May), i.e. until 14 June.

All trademark, industrial design, patent and other IPR registrations which expired during the state of emergency were extended by one month from the date of the lifting of the state of emergency (14 May), i.e. until 14 June.

From 7 April (and until further notice), providing reports on express IPR inquiries are not possible.

No communication from the BG PTO.

Croatia

HR IPO

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

Until further notice, the HR IPO continues operations and communication with clients; however preferred, is by telephone and electronic means.

If requests cannot be resolved by telephone or electronic means, the client is obliged to announce arrival in person at the premises of the HR IPO in advance (that has to be approved by the official responsible for the related request).

All actions in the process of registering IP rights, including subsequent submissions, may be filed to the HR IPO using e-Application and via the website e-Citizen.

Czech Republic

CZ IPO

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

On 30 October, the government prolonged the state of emergency until 20 November. Deadlines are not extended during the state of emergency, but failure to act can be excused (e.g. due to risk of infection if personal presence would be required, or limited submission by mail), unless expressly excluded by law.

In proceedings before the CZ IPO, waivers are often explicitly excluded. If the participant in proceedings has a data mailbox for electronic communication with public authorities, the state of emergency is not a sufficient reason for a waiver without further evidence.

The office hours at the CZ IPO are in general limited to Mondays and Wednesdays, from 9 am to 2 pm.

The filling office is open on working days from 9 am to 2 pm.

Contact is preferred in writing, by electronic means or via telephone.

EPO

European Patent Office

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

notice of 27 May concerning the disruptions due to the COVID-19 outbreak

notice concerning the extension of periods for the payment of fees

decision of the Administrative Council of 28 May temporarily suspending the application of Rule 51 (2) EPC

Deadlines expiring on or after 15 March are extended until 2 June.

The extension of deadlines also applies to periods for paying fees, including renewal fees.

As regards deadlines that expired before 15 March as well as deadlines expiring after 2 June, the EPO has facilitated the use of legal remedies for users located in areas still directly affected by disruptions due to COVID-19.

The EPO customer services helpdesk remains fully operational and available (by e-mail, the website contact form or by telephone). Customer services are available by telephone from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 6 pm.

Oral proceedings in opposition scheduled until 31 December are postponed until further notice, unless they are confirmed (i.a. also with the consent of the parties concerned) to take place by means of videoconferencing. The EPO intends to maintain oral proceedings in opposition scheduled to take place on the premises of the EPO on or after 4 January 2021 (1 January being a public holiday i.a. in Germany and The Netherlands followed by a weekend). 

Oral proceedings in examination will continue to be held by videoconference.

As of 18 May, oral proceedings before the Boards of Appeal are held – to a limited extent – at their premises in Haar as well as (due to a limited number of rooms suitable for physical distancing in the premises in Haar) in the Isar building in Munich, Germany. However, such hearings may also be conducted by videoconferencing technology if agreed by the parties concerned. Specific regime for parties unable to attend oral proceedings and restrictions as to physical presence are in place.

Documents filed during telephone consultations and during interviews and oral proceedings held by videoconference must be filed by e-mail (i.e. the possibility of filing by fax during videoconferences was again removed).

EPO organised live events scheduled until 31 December are expected to take place online, unless indicated otherwise.

EUIPO

European Union Intellectual Property Office

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

communication on the extension of time limits due to COVID-19 of 19 March

decision no. EX-20-3 of the Executive Director of the EUIPO

communication on information and guidance on further extension of deadlines of 29  April

decision no. EX-20-4 of the Executive Director of the EUIPO

video update from the Executive Director of the EUIPO dated 12 June

video update from the Executive Director of the EUIPO dated 1 July

video update from the Executive Director of the EUIPO dated 24 July

video update from the Executive Director of the EUIPO dated 23 September

All pending deadlines expiring between 9 March and 30 April were extended until 18 May.

As the exceptional extensions of deadlines came to an end on 18 May, a Guidance Note on i.a. the extension of deadlines and the suspension as well as continuation of proceedings has been published by the EUIPO.

In general, hearings and meetings are still postponed until further notice.

Hungary

HIPO

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

The exceptional extension of deadlines came to an end on 2 June.
Deadlines before the HIPO as well as judicial (court) deadlines are no longer extended.

In the case of a missed deadline, the HIPO and the courts are supposed to rule on requests for restitutio in integrum (justification of the missed deadline) fairly.

Hearings at the HIPO are not affected.
If justified by pandemic prevention measures, court hearings will be conducted by means of audio-visual technology, however, court hearings in person are no longer prohibited.

In-person consultations with case handlers are possible only in exceptional cases upon previously set appointments. The access to case files in person is still suspended until further notice.
Submission of documents in person is possible in a limited timeframe between 10 and 12 a.m. on working days.

The customer service centre physically reopened for its clients however, wearing face masks is recommended.
Hence, e.g. voluntary registration of copyright is possible again.

Moldova

AGEPI

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication on prolongation of the special activity regime at the AGEPI

communication on deadlines related to procedures before the AGEPI

communication on a special work regime during the state of emergency

communication referring to the organisation of hearings before the AGEPI's Board of Appeal

All deadlines, including administrative deadlines, deadlines for submission in bilateral proceedings and statutory deadlines are applicable, taking into consideration, however, the suspension of such for the period of the state of emergency (17 March – 15 May).

Applications, replies and other documents can be submitted at the AGEPI.
Online submission services are available.

Hearings before the AGEPI's Board of Appeal are held at the premises of the office and with the participation of the parties (the first hearing was scheduled for 2 June).

Montenegro

ME IPO

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

notice

Deadlines are not extended.

As of 4 November, the ME IPO is closed until further notice.

Communication is possible via telephone or e-mail. All submissions and applications must be filed by e-mail or mail.

North Macedonia

MK IPO

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

decision on state of emergency

As of 23 June, the state of emergency was lifted and all deadlines that were to expire during the state of emergency (which were interrupted for the duration of the state of emergency) continued to run.

As of 23 June, the MK IPO continued to work directly with clients.

Poland

PL IPO

status: 20 May 2020

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

Anti-crisis act

Between 8 March and 30 June, opposition periods of trademark applications as well as deadlines for the submission of translations (with regard to patents) to the PL IPO were not initiated. Already initiated opposition periods were interrupted. The periods started anew on 1 July.

All deadlines that have been suspended were re-suspended from 24 May.

Yet, all actions and measures taken are valid and effective.

Hearings before the PL IPO are taking place again starting from the second half of June. Hearings before adjudicating bodies are resumed.

The point of direct meetings with the PL IPO's customers, the point of sale of publications and the cash register office are closed.

Documents and other correspondence shall be submitted electronically.

E-notifications regarding the expiry of the protection period are sent to persons who have indicated electronic data (e-mail, SMS), while sending notifications in paper form is suspended.

Romania

SOIT

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

notice on affected deadlines

Decree no. 195/2020 by President of Romania on 16 March

Decision no. 53, 18 March

Decree no. 240/2020 by the president of Romania on 14 April

Pending procedures before the SOIT were suspended for the entire period of the state of emergency declared by the President of Romania (thus between 16 March and 15 May).

During the entire state of emergency, IP litigation cases (i.e. cancellations, revocations, infringements, appeals against the SOIT's decisions), excluding preliminary injunctions, were suspended.

All hearings were postponed for the entire period of the state of emergency.

Serbia

RS IPO

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

notice

decree on deadline application in the administrative proceedings during the state of emergency

Deadlines that would have expired during the state of emergency were prolonged for an additional 30 days starting from the end of the state of emergency (i.e. as it expired on 6 May, 30 days from the respective date).

The general governmental recommendation is to still keep hearings/meetings (in person) to a minimum.
Communication is possible via telephone or e-mail; all submissions and applications shall be filed by mail.

Slovakia

SK IPO

status: 22 May 2020

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

No general impact on deadlines, but extensions of deadlines due to the situation might be granted.

In general, the SK IPO is continuing its operations as usual, but contact is only possible electronically or by mail.

The SK IPO is closed for the public (no possibility of personal meeting or hearings)  until further notice.

Slovenia

SIPO

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

Decision establishing the termination of grounds for provisional measures for judicial, administrative and other public matters to cope with the spread of infectious disease SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Temporary measures in court, administrative and other public law matters ceased to apply as of 1 June (i.e. suspended deadlines continued to run, etc.).

As of 1 June, hearings can be held again.

Safety measures apply when entering the SIPO.

Turkey

TPTO

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

information on IP deadlines of 8 April

Presidential decree regarding the suspension of deadlines

information on IP deadlines of 5 May

As of 15 June, all deadlines in legal proceedings before Turkish courts and the TPTO regarding IP rights started respectively continued to run.

This includes deadlines regarding the origination, exercise and termination of rights, other requests concerning IP rights as well as oppositions and appeals.

The announcement on deadlines issued by the authority regarding IP rights includes the following measures:

• Deadlines that expired before 12 March were not extended and thus were not changed.
• Deadlines initially expiring between 13 March and 27 March (including mentioned dates) were extended until 30 June and are now expired.
• Deadlines initially expiring between 28 March and 15 June (including mentioned dates) were interrupted until 16 June (i.e. this period is not included in the deadlines).
• Deadlines before 13 March and ending on or after 16 June are extended by adding 95 days as of the initial expiration date.

Deadlines initially starting between 13 March and 15 June (including mentioned dates) have started to run from 16 June.

The TPTO remains open.

As of 15 June, hearings can be held again.

WIPO

World Intellectual Property Organization

procedural law / deadlines

hearings, meetings / further comments

communication

notice on WIPO meetings and events

communication on WIPO virtual and hybrid meetings

communication

notice no. 11/2020 on the suspension of postal communication with the International Bureau

notice no. 12/2020 temporary measures concerning certified documents and extracts services

notice no. 7/2020 on remedies available against failure to meet a time limit under the Madrid System and extension of time limits in case of closure

notice no. 27/2020 against failure to meet a time limit due to the COVID 19 disease outbreak as a natural calamity

notice no 52/2020 on measures concerning certified documents and extracts services

communication on COVID-19 Update: Madrid System

communication

communication on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the processing of PCT applications at the International Bureau

PCT newsletter no. 03/2020

communication of 9 April on excuse of delays under PCT

communication of 27 May on further COVID-19-related extension of RO/IB for considering PCT applications as withdrawn for failure to pay fees

communication of 3 July on the end of COVID-19-related RO/IB extended period for considering PCT applications as withdrawn for failure to pay fees

newsletter no. 10/2020

In general, the WIPO is and was continuing its operations as usual.

The WIPO offices remain physically closed for non-essential staff and third parties; an almost entirely virtual work presence was activated pursuant to WIPO's business continuity protocol.

Events and meetings are held in a hybrid (with limited physical attendance and online participation) or fully virtual format.

The WIPO has resumed most of its communications by mail. Yet, users are still advised to use electronic communications as well as respective WIPO e-services.

The WIPO has released a COVID-19 IP Policy Tracker providing information on measures adopted by IPOs in member states worldwide.

Additional information on trademarks:

The WIPO provided special notices on remedies available against failure to meet a deadline (especially with respect to deadlines in case of closure of IPOs of contracting parties).

A special notice further waives the submission of evidence required under Rule 5 of the Regulation under the Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of marks. This includes communication in which an applicant, a holder or an IPO remedies an irregularity in an international application or in a request of recording.

The WIPO explicitly reminds applicants, holders and IPOs of the six-month limitation under Rule 5 of the Regulation that i.a. also applies to deadlines to pay any fee to the WIPO. The WIPO thus encourages to take prompt action by sending such communication of failure to meet a deadline, instruction (e.g. to debit from a current WIPO account) or payment no later than six months from the expiry of the deadline concerned.

The WIPO has resumed most of its postal mail-based services.

In general, the WIPO still advises for communications under the Madrid System to WIPO to be sent by electronic means (e.g. via Madrid System e-Services  or Contact Madrid).

Additional information on patents:

The WIPO is generally interpreting the COVID-19 pandemic as falling under the excuse of delay provision under PCT Rule 82quater.1. Thus, it shall treat any PCT Rule 82quater requests that cite COVID-19-related issues favourably (i.a. no evidence that the virus affected the locality in which the interested party resides/is staying or has a place of business has to be provided).

Furthermore, on 1 July, PCT Rule 82quater.2 concerning the excuse of delay in meeting certain deadlines due to unavailability of electronic means of communication at an office or organisation entered into force.

Until further notice, the WIPO continues to transmit PCT documents and notifications only electronically. Due to a reduction of scanning operations, PCT users should communicate exclusively by electronic means (e.g. through ePCT).

While continuing to apply PCT Rule 82quater.1 to excuse delays in meeting certain PCT deadlines when requested, the WIPO restarted the issuance of notifications (Form PCT/RO/117) as of 1 July. Nevertheless, the WIPO continues to waive the payment of any applicable late payment fees under PCT Rule 16bis2 until further notice.

See detailed information provided by the WIPO on trademarks, patents, industrial designs, geographical indications as well as its Arbitration and Mediation Centre and on domain names.