Covid-19 IP office Philippines update: what you need to know for IP matters in the Philippines

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In order to contain the spread of Covid-19, the Philippine government has placed Metro Manila under community quarantine from 15 March 2020 to 15 May 2020. Metro Manila has also been placed under curfew from 8pm to 5am during this period. As a result, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has issued a memorandum outlining an extension of various due dates and the provision of limited services until 15 April when the community quarantine ends.

Patent and Trademark Filings and Administrative Actions before the IPOPHL

  • Work is suspended at the IPOPHL from 16 March 2020 until 15 May 2020. However a skeletal workforce will be maintained to ensure continued delivery of services;
  • New applications for patents, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks and trademark related documents may be filed online via the electronic filing system. To avoid any potential issues with the electronic filing system, we request that you send us all filing instructions at least one day before the due date;
  • Deadlines for payments, responses to official actions, declarations, and other documents including motions for extension of the period to file oppositions, answers, position papers, and appeals are extended as follows:
    • Deadlines that fall due between 16 March 2020 to 31 March 2020 are extended until 31 May 2020.
    • Deadlines that fall due between 1 April to 15 May 2020 are extended for a period of sixty (60) calendar days from the due date;
  • No manual filings will be accepted during the quarantine period;
  • Requests for certified true copies of documents will not be accepted during the quarantine period;
  • All scheduled hearings and mediations before the IPOPHL are suspended.

IP Cases before the Regular Courts

  • Court hearings have been suspended from 13 March 2020 to 18 March 2020;
  • Court services have not been suspended. Pleadings and other motions must still be filed and attended to as they fall due;
  • The Philippines Supreme Court will issue guidelines as deemed necessary.

As a firm, we have implemented measures to ensure that we are able to continue to provide quality service without interruption during this time, while keeping the health and safety of our employees and communities a priority. We will continue to monitor the situation in the Philippines and will provide updates as necessary. Please feel free to contact us at mail.asia@spruson.com with any questions you may have.

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