On April 28, 2020, the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) extended fee relief for certain delays in patent-related filings that can be attributed to the COVID-19 outbreak. This notice has the effect of extending many of the deadlines we reported earlier this month.

In summary, qualifying patent-related filings with deadlines falling between March 27, 2020, and May 31, 2020, will be considered timely if filed before June 1, 2020, provided that the filing and payment is accompanied by a statement that the delay was due to the COVID-19 outbreak. For a complete list of qualifying patent-related filings, see the USPTO’s April 28, 2020, notice.

Our attorneys are committed to providing thoughtful guidance through this difficult time. If you need assistance understanding your IP rights amid the COVID-19 crisis, please contact any of the Intellectual Property attorneys at Taft.

Please visit our COVID-19 Toolkit for all of Taft’s updates on the coronavirus.