We have just heard news that the UK IPO is declaring that last Tuesday, 24 March 2020, and all subsequent days until further notice will be deemed "interrupted days" as set out in the various Patents, Trade Marks and Designs Rules. The notice of interruption can be found here.
This means that any deadlines for patents, supplementary protection certificates, trade marks, and designs, and applications for these rights, which fall on an interrupted day are automatically extended to the next non-interrupted day.
The UK IPO remains operational and is able to conduct all forms of business, and is indeed asking all rights holders and IP professionals to continue to file as normal where possible.
At Haseltine Lake Kempner we also remain fully operational, with our colleagues working safely at home, so that they are best placed to look after themselves, and to care for their families.
Please note that, although the "interrupted days" apply to all time periods set out in the various relevant UK Acts and Rules, and to all non-statutory periods that have been specified by staff of the UK IPO, they do not apply to time periods set out under the various international IP treaties, e.g. the Patent Cooperation Treaty, European Patent Convention, or the Madrid system, where the Office may be acting as a Receiving Office. Remedies are available under the various international systems.
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