Extra Time For Japanese Patent Filers

By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch

Patent offices in developed and developing countries answered a call from the Japan Patent Office for “bail-out measures” for Japanese patent applicants who were affected by the tsunami on 11 March.

Japanese applicants and agents unable to answer and comply with certain timelines according to regular procedures were asked to be given more time. According the Japan Patent Office, many patent offices all over the world reacted favourably to the request, with details for the respective bail-out procedures posted on the website of the Japan Patent Office, see here.